Chinese language state media says Syrian President Bashar Assad has arrived in China on his first go to to the nation because the begin of Syria’s 12-year battle
ByThe Related Press
September 21, 2023, 1:33 AM
FILE – Syrian President Bashar Assad, middle, waves to his supporters at a polling station in the course of 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 because the nation’s battle began 12 years throughout which China was considered one of his primary backers, his workplace stated Tuesday. (AP Picture/Hassan Ammar, File)
The Related Press
BEIJING — Syrian President Bashar Assad arrived in China on Thursday on his first go to to the nation because the begin of Syria’s 12-year battle throughout which Beijing has been considered one of his primary backers.
China’s overseas ministry stated 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.
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 help Assad within the Syrian battle, which has killed half one million folks and left massive components of the nation in ruins.
China may play a serious function sooner or later in Syria’s reconstruction, which is anticipated to price tens of billions of {dollars}. Syria final 12 months joined China’s Belt and Highway Initiative wherein Beijing expands its affect in growing areas via infrastructure initiatives.
Assad’s workplace stated earlier that the Syrian chief was invited by Chinese language President Xi Jinping and would convey with him a high-ranking Syrian delegation.
Syria’s worsening financial disaster has led to protests in government-held components of the nation. Syria blames the disaster on Western sanctions and U.S.-backed Kurdish-led fighters who management the nation’s largest oil fields within the east close to the border with Iraq.
Diplomatic contacts between Syria and different Arab international locations have intensified following the Feb. 6, earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria killing greater than 50,000 folks, together with over 6,000 in Syria. Assad flew to Saudi Arabia in Might the place he attended the Arab League summit days after Syria’s membership was reinstated within the 22-member league.
Since Syria’s battle started in March 2011 with pro-democracy protests and later became a civil battle, Iran and Russia have helped Assad regain management of a lot of the nation.
China has used its veto energy on the U.N. eight occasions to cease resolutions in opposition to Assad’s authorities, the most recent in July 2020.
Assad’s final and solely go to to China was in 2004, a 12 months after the U.S.-led invasion of neighboring Iraq and at a time when Washington was placing stress on Syria.