For years, Syrian President Assad was isolated on the international stage – now China’s leadership is demonstratively inviting the ruler to the Asian Games and announcing a “strategic partnership.”
China and Syria want to build a “strategic partnership”. The deepened relationship between the two countries will be an important milestone in their history, said Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to state broadcaster CCTV, on the occasion of the visit of his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad.
First trip in almost 20 years
Assad traveled to China for the first time in nearly 20 years and arrived in the city of Hangzhou yesterday to attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Games. He had been largely isolated internationally for years because of his brutal crackdown on insurgents.
China supported Assad in the Security Council
However, China, like Assad’s most important allies Russia and Iran, maintained relations with Syria and repeatedly supported the Syrian ruler by abstaining from UN Security Council resolutions critical of Syria. In May, the Arab League countries welcomed Assad back into their fold for the first time.
China and Syria expanded their economic and political cooperation some time ago. Syria wants to become part of the Chinese mega-project of the “New Silk Road”, in which the government in Beijing wants to invest several hundred billion euros.
Syria part of the “New Silk Road”
The People’s Republic is currently building a new trade route that will reach numerous countries, including the states of Eastern Europe. To mark the tenth anniversary of the project, a forum on the “New Silk Road” will take place in October, at which Russian President Vladimir Putin is also expected in Beijing.