Al-Assad to visit China at Xi's invitation: Syrian Presidency

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
19 Sep 2023 15:46
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The Syrian Presidency confirms that President Bashar al-Assad and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will hold a Syrian-Chinese summit.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad addresses members of parliament in Damascus (SANA)

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will visit China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the office of the Syrian President confirmed on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, Al-Watan reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, that al-Assad plans to visit China and hold talks with Xi, in his first trip to Beijing since the start of the war on Syria.

"At the official invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Bashar Assad and First Lady Asma Assad are planning to visit China, which will begin the day after tomorrow, on Thursday," the statement read.

Al-Assad and Xi will hold a Syrian-Chinese summit, and the Syrian president and his wife will hold a number of meetings in Shanghai and Beijing, the president's office noted.

According to state-run Syrian news agency SANA, "an official delegation will accompany President al-Assad during the visit comprising Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Fayssal Mikdad, Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Mohammad Samer al-Khalil, Presidential Affairs Minister Mansour Azzam and Special Adviser at the Presidency of the Republic, Buthaina Shaaban."

China will be the third non-Arab country that al-Assad visits since before the conflict.

Al-Watan said the Syrian leader was expected to attend the opening of the Asian Games in Hangzhou on September 23.

It is noteworthy that Beijing has provided Damascus with international support, particularly at the UN Security Council, where it has repeatedly abstained from Western-proposed resolutions against Damascus.

In late April, the Syrian President met with the Chinese special envoy Zhai Jun in Damascus, where the former highlighted China's increased role in bringing peace and stability to the Middle East, adding that China's practices have become the go-to standards in politics, economy, and culture.

During the meeting, al-Assad said Syria does not forget that China stood by its side during the war in order to defend Syrian sovereignty and appreciates all the assistance provided by Beijing during the devastating earthquake that struck the country on February 6.

In 2021, al-Assad met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Damascus and discussed Syria possibly taking part in China's "Belt and Road" infrastructure and trade initiative, the Syrian presidency said at the time.