Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in China’s eastern city of Hangzhou on Thursday. This is his first visit to China since 2004. Assad is due to attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Games along with more than a dozen foreign delegates. This is Asad’s first visit since 2004 as he hopes to end more than a decade of diplomatic isolation amid Western sanctions. The Syrian leader has seldom been seen outside his country since the start of a civil war that has claimed more than half a million lives.
Assad would lead a senior delegation for a series of meetings in several Chinese cities, including a summit with President Xi Jinping. Xi will hold a banquet and other bilateral activities with his Syrian counterpart and other heads of state and government attending the games. Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Kuwait’s crown prince Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmed Al Jaber and Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal with also be visiting China for the Asian Games, according to China’s foreign ministry.
Being seen alongside China's president at a regional gathering should add further legitimacy to Syria's campaign to slowly return to the world stage, during which it has joined China's Belt and Road Initiative in 2022 and been re-admitted in May to the 22-nation strong Arab League.
Since Syria’s conflict began in March 2011 with pro-democracy protests and later turned into a civil war, Iran and Russia have helped Assad regain control of much of the country. China has used its veto power at the U.N. eight times to stop resolutions against Assad’s government, the latest in July 2020.
Diplomatic contacts between Syria and other Arab countries have intensified following the Feb. 6, earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria killing more than 50,000 people, including over 6,000 in Syria. Assad flew to Saudi Arabia in May where he attended the Arab League summit days after Syria’s membership was reinstated in the 22-member league.