Chinese President Xi Jinping and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad held Friday a summit meeting in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, wherein the two leaders announced strategic partnership between the two sides.
Three partnership documents were signed in the summit. The first document was an economic cooperation agreement, while the second was a joint memorandum of understanding (MoU) for exchange and cooperation in the field of economic development, media reported.
The third document was a MoU on the joint cooperation plan within the framework of China’s Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure project.
BREAKING Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad announce the launch of the China-Syria strategic partnership.
Xi stressed Beijing is willing to “firmly support” Syria. pic.twitter.com/y9QnnSbZSa
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) September 22, 2023
“Today, we will jointly announce the establishment of the China-Syria strategic partnership, which will become an important milestone in the history of bilateral relations,” Xi told Assad, according to a readout from state broadcaster CCTV.
“Faced with an international situation full of instability and uncertainty, China is willing to continue to work together with Syria, firmly support each other, promote friendly cooperation, and jointly defend international fairness and justice,” he added.
Relations between the two countries “have withstood the test of international changes”, Xi said.
“And the friendship between the two countries has been strengthened over time,” he added.
Assad Remarks
For his part, Assad described his visit as “significant in timing and circumstances”, noting that “a multi-polar international system is being formed in which balance will be restored to the world.”
“We look hopefully to China’s constructive role internationally,” the Syrian leader said in remarks carried by Al-Manar.
He stressed, meanwhile, that Damascus “rejects all attempts to undermine Beijing’s role.”
Assad kicked off his visit to China on Thursday, marking his first trip to China in nearly two decades.
Syrian President Assad arrives in Hangzhou, China for Asian Games @shanghaieye pic.twitter.com/SYEVHxZ5z4
— Zhang Heqing (@zhang_heqing) September 22, 2023
Following his arrival, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the visit would further strengthen mutual political trust and cooperation across various sectors between the two nations, elevating bilateral relations to new heights.
The spokeswoman highlighted the sound and steady growth of China-Syria relations, emphasizing that President Assad places great importance on these relations.
China and Syria share a longstanding traditional friendship, with Syria being one of the first Arab countries to establish diplomatic ties with China. Syria also co-sponsored the 1971 United Nations General Assembly resolution that restored China’s rightful seat in the UN.
Source: Agencies
