BEIJING (AP) — 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 certainly one of his essential backers.
China’s international ministry stated Assad would attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Video games, a world sports activities occasion starting Saturday within the jap 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 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 function sooner or later in Syria’s reconstruction, which is predicted to price tens of billions of {dollars}. Syria final 12 months joined China’s Belt and Highway Initiative through which 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 carry with him a high-ranking Syrian delegation.
Syria’s worsening economic crisis 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 nations 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 May 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 was a civil struggle, 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 instances to cease resolutions towards Assad’s authorities, the latest 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.