Syria's Efforts to End Isolation; Xi and Assad Emphasize Expanding Bilateral Relations

Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, traveled to China on Friday in an effort to end diplomatic isolation and Western sanctions. This visit marks Assad's first official trip to China since the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2011. According to Agence France-Presse, Bashar al-Assad is the latest in a series of 'ousted leaders' welcomed by Beijing, following visits from Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela, and Ebrahim Raisi, the President of Iran, earlier this year, as well as senior Russian officials. Simultaneously, China's state news agency reported that Xi Jinping, the President of China, and Bashar al-Assad announced the establishment of a 'strategic partnership between China and Syria' on Friday, with Xi stating that 'the relationship between the two countries has been maintained through the test of international changes.' The Chinese leader added that China supports Syria in opposing foreign intervention, maintaining national independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Bashar al-Assad reciprocated by thanking the Chinese government for its efforts to stand by the Syrian people. He emphasized that this meeting is of extraordinary importance given the timing and circumstances, as a multipolar world is emerging that 'restores balance and stability' to the world. Analysts say that Assad's trip to China reflects his efforts to improve relations with the world, noting that China could play a significant role in Syria's reconstruction.