Syrian President Assad visits China after nearly 20 years

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou today, his first visit to the country since 2004. The visit is seen as another step towards ending more than a decade of diplomatic isolation amid Western sanctions.

Assad last visited China in 2004 for talks with then-President Hu Jintao. It was the first visit by a Syrian president to China since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1956. Assad will lead a senior delegation to attend a series of meetings in several Chinese cities, including a summit with President Xi Jinping. On Saturday, Assad will attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Games in Hangzhou and meet Chinese President Xi.

Like Russia and Iran, China has continued to maintain ties with Syria while most other countries have turned against Assad over his brutal use of violence and repression against anti-government protesters that erupted in 2011. China has been providing diplomatic support for Damascus for a long time, especially in the UN Security Council, of which it is a permanent member.

Expanding its influence in the Middle East, China mediated a deal earlier this year in which regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, agreed to mend ties and re-open their embassies. Subsequently, a summit in Saudi Arabia put Syria’s return to the Arab world on the agenda, ending more than a decade of regional exclusion for Damascus. In 2019, China also stated that it “firmly supports Syria’s economic reconstruction” and “anti-terrorism efforts”. It is noteworthy that Assad is visiting China at a time when protests are taking place in Syria demanding regime change.

Assad’s visit to China is expected to focus on securing funds for reconstruction and international legitimacy. Haid Haid, columnist and consulting fellow at Chatham House in London, commented in a post on the X platform: “This meeting is expected to focus on trying to secure help in rebuilding Syria.” This year, China also hosted Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and a delegation of officials from Afghanistan’s Taliban government.