Syria’s Assad seeks China support in historic trip

Syrian President Bashar Assad is set to travel to China this week, a momentous and important trip for the Syrian regime leader. While the regime has been able to come in from the cold in the Middle East in the last year, with key meetings in the Gulf, it has not been able to expand its international relations contacts much beyond Russia and Iran, which already backed Assad in Syria’s civil war.

China has its own interests in Syria, but has been wary of the country’s instability. It is generally looking to increase its influence in the Middle East, particularly the Gulf, and has already expanded its investments in Africa and its ties with Iran and Russia.

So, hosting Assad will be a major step for Beijing, while it could mean a major transformation for Syria which lacks investment and resources and is under heavy sanctions from the West.

Visit to include an economic delegation

France24 reported that “the visit includes a number of meetings and events,” citing the Syrian Presidency, and it will include a political and economic delegation.

“Pro-government newspaper Al-Watan said Assad was expected to attend the opening of the Asian Games in Hangzhou on September 23,” the report added.

Pro-Iran media outlet Al-Mayadeen noted that “Assad stressed that Syria does not forget that China stood by its side during the war in order to defend Syrian sovereignty in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter, and it also appreciates all the assistance provided by Beijing during the earthquake period.”