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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad praised China as being a "great nation" that plays a crucial role on the global stage, in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV).

He emphasized that when China speaks of partnership, it does so with a new principle in mind, devoid of hegemony: adding that small countries are in need of this sort of partnership. 

The Syrian President added that China stood by Syria politically through its role in the Security Council and in several international forums.

President al-Assad emphasized the importance of this partnership for Damascus, highlighting Syria's current economic blockade imposed by the West, with the goal of starving the Syrian people.

He pointed out that this issue had been discussed extensively with Chinese officials and commended Beijing's humanitarian assistance to Syria, which plays a vital role in alleviating the suffering.

Read more: Al-Assad: Pivoting East is a political, economic guarantee for Syria

President al-Assad announced that meetings and discussions would be held to establish mechanisms aimed at transforming several initiatives into practical projects upon his return to Syria.

He underscored the importance of joint projects and the exchange of Chinese and Syrian expertise in industrial and economic endeavors, drawing parallels between the circumstances of many southern countries and those China experienced a few decades ago.

The second reason for this interaction, according to President al-Assad, is the social and moral concepts that play a fundamental role in the development process. He stressed that technological advancement could be separated from the social condition.

President al-Assad highlighted that Syria could benefit from the Chinese model in various aspects, cautioning against the failure of many countries that attempted to adopt the Western model with adverse outcomes.

Read more: China says al-Assad's visit to push ties with Syria to 'new level'

Reflecting on his visit to China 19 years ago, when it was known as the "world's factory," President al-Assad acknowledged the remarkable transformation, stating that today, he can confidently say that China is the "factory of innovation."

Furthermore, he touched upon the deep-rooted love of the Chinese people for their country and noted that this pride has grown significantly due to China's achievements.

Speaking about these achievements, President al-Assad acknowledged that change is sometimes coupled with negative byproducts but stressed that the preservation of China's culture remained the most significant success.