Isolated on the international scene, Bashar al-Assad arrived on Thursday September 21 in China, where he had not been since 2011 and the start of the civil war in his country. The Syrian president hopes for increased financial support from Beijing. He is also due to attend this weekend’s launch of the Asian Games in Hangzhou (September 23 to October 8). Update on mutual expectations from this official visit.
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With our correspondent in Beijing, Stéphane Lagarde
Young volunteers in pastel clothes, human-sized mascots and other symbols of the Asian Games awaited the Syrian president and his wife when he got off the Air China plane, which took him to Hangzou on Thursday. Bashar al-Assad will be alongside the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, the King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni, the South Korean Prime Minister, Han Duck-soo, and other representatives from countries present such as Kuwait and Nepal, for the launch on Saturday of ‘A highly anticipated event here.
A proximity that should “ strengthen mutual political trust and cooperation in various sectors », Said one of the spokespersons for Chinese diplomacy, with probably new financial commitments at stake. China intends to participate in the reconstruction of Syria, even if for the moment its investments remain limited in the country.
Damascus, which joined the BRI initiative last year (Belt and road initiative) – the new Chinese silk roads – and who intends to join the Shanghai cooperation organization, hopes for more benefits. This visit also has a diplomatic stake for a Syrian power seeking international rehabilitation. This is also the case for China, which intends to continue to play a very active role in the Middle East, the former precinct of the United States.