Chinese language state media says Syrian President Bashar Assad has arrived in China on his first go to to the nation for the reason that begin of Syria’s 12-year battle
ByThe Related Press
September 21, 2023, 1:33 AM
FILE – Syrian President Bashar Assad, heart, waves to his supporters at a polling station throughout the Presidential elections within the city of Douma, within the japanese Ghouta area, close to the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria, Might 26, 2021. President Bashar Assad will head to China later this week in his first go to to Beijing for the reason that nation’s battle began 12 years throughout which China was one in all his foremost backers, his workplace mentioned Tuesday. (AP Photograph/Hassan Ammar, File)
The Related Press
BEIJING — Syrian President Bashar Assad arrived in China on Thursday on his first go to to the nation for the reason that begin of Syria‘s 12-year battle throughout which Beijing has been one in all his foremost backers.
China’s overseas ministry mentioned Assad would attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Video games, a global sports activities occasion starting Saturday within the japanese Chinese language metropolis of Hangzhou.
Assad’s workplace mentioned earlier that the Syrian chief was invited by Chinese language President Xi Jinping for a summit and would carry with him a high-ranking Syrian delegation.
China has been increasing its attain within the Center East after mediating a deal in March between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and it continues to assist Assad within the Syrian battle, which has killed half 1,000,000 folks and left massive components of the nation in ruins.
China might play a significant position sooner or later in Syria’s reconstruction, which is anticipated to value tens of billions of {dollars}. Syria final yr joined China’s Belt and Highway Initiative by which Beijing expands its affect in growing areas by way of infrastructure initiatives.
Assad’s final and solely go to to China was in 2004, a yr after the U.S.-led invasion of neighboring Iraq and at a time when Washington was placing stress on Syria.
