International news was recently marked by the historic visit of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to China. This meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, sealed a “strategic partnership” between the two countries. This visit is of major diplomatic importance for Bashar al-Assad, who is seeking to strengthen his international support and find funds for the reconstruction of Syria.
This visit marks the Syrian president’s first trip to China in almost 20 years. In 2004, Bashar al-Assad was the first Syrian leader to visit the Middle Kingdom since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1956. Xi Jinping welcomed his counterpart in Hangzhou, in the east of the China, on the sidelines of the Asian Games.
The two heads of state jointly announced the establishment of a “strategic partnership” between China and Syria. In an international context marked by instability, Xi Jinping pledged to work with Syria to promote friendly cooperation and uphold international fairness and justice.
China has always been an ally of the Syrian president, notably providing support to him at the UN Security Council by abstaining from votes on resolutions unfavorable to the Syrian regime. This strong relationship between the two countries has withstood international changes, as noted by Xi Jinping.
For Bashar al-Assad, this visit to China has a crucial diplomatic character. Isolated on the international scene, it seeks to strengthen its ties with other countries, particularly those in the Middle East. This year, the Syrian regime began normalizing its relations with many Arab countries, thus marking a desire to emerge from isolation.
China, for its part, is playing a growing role in the Middle East. By promoting its ambitious “Silk Roads” project, aimed at strengthening commercial links between Asia, Europe and Africa, China is extending its influence in a historically strategic region for the United States. Syria joined this project in 2022, hoping to benefit from significant economic benefits for the reconstruction of its country devastated by war.
This meeting between Xi Jinping and Bashar al-Assad therefore marks a significant step for Syria and the Middle East region. It demonstrates the efforts of these two countries to strengthen their cooperation and renew their strategic partnerships in a constantly evolving geopolitical context.