Syria’s Chief, al-Assad, Visits China in Search of Pals and Funds
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In 2022, he introduced that Syria would be part of China’s Belt and Highway Initiative. He has additionally lauded China for its position in brokering an settlement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to revive ties in March. In Could, Syria was readmitted to the Arab League, although the re-establishment of full diplomatic relations with some international locations has stalled.
What Occurs Subsequent
Mr. al-Assad landed in Hangzhou and can attend occasions across the Asian Video games, which open on Saturday within the jap Chinese language metropolis. He involves China with excessive hopes — if not outsize expectations — of what Beijing may do for his nation, analysts mentioned.
“The hope is that China may once more use its position as a facilitator to mediate between Syria, Turkey, Iran and Russia to revive Assad’s authorities’s management of the nation,” mentioned Julia Gurol-Haller, a postdoctoral researcher at thwee College of Freiburg in Germany.
In the long run, China sees the port in Latakia, Syria, as a spot of strategic significance in its ambitions to realize a foothold within the Mediterranean Sea, Dr. Gurol-Haller mentioned. However China has been cautious thus far, maintaining its investments in Syria modest.
Why It Issues
Mr. al-Assad’s go to presents a possibility for Beijing to reveal diplomatic power at a time when China is going through an intensifying rivalry with america for geopolitical affect, together with within the Center East.
When the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, visited Beijing in June, China provided to mediate between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is anticipated to be offered with the same supply of mediation when he visits China later this yr.
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