Official talks were held on Tuesday between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign and Expatriates Minister Walid al-Muallem and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, detailing all aspects of bilateral relations and means for enhancing them in all fields.
The two sides asserted the importance of exchanging visits and increasing coordination on all levels, and they exchanged opinions on the developments in Syria and the regions and the efforts to make progress on the political track regarding the crisis in Syria along with fighting all forms terrorism, including the economic terrorism practiced by the US and some of its allies against the Syrian and Chinese people, with both sides expressing matching viewpoints on all issues that were discussed.
Muallem reiterated that Syria views relations with China as strategic, and that it wants to elevate them across all fields to achieve true partnership, pointing to the policy of looking to the east, which President Bashar al-Assad, proposed and the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the two of which are important frameworks for realizing the desired partnership between Syria and China.
He expressed Syria’s appreciation of China’s vital role in helping Syria confront terrorism and economic sanctions, noting that the war on Syria has taken the form of embargo and economic sanctions along with the use of terrorists, and that this war is part of a bigger war waged by certain states and forces against countries that strive for development, peace and preserving their independent decision-making.
Muallem reviewed the latest developments in politics and on the ground in Syria, asserting that Syria will continue its war against terrorism until all its territory is liberated, all while continuing to reach a political solution that will be creating by Syrians alone and to rebuild what was destroyed by terrorism.
He reiterated the invitation for China to contribute to the reconstruction process, and that Chinese companies will receive facilitations in this regard.
For his part, Yi welcomed Muallem’s visit to China, affirming that his country is open to bolstering relations with Syria, as the friendship between the two countries is historic and traditional, welcoming the policy of looking to the east that Syria had announced and its participation in the Belt and Road Initiative.
He reiterated China’s calls for reaching a political solution to the crisis in Syria based on respecting its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, calling on all states to refrain from interfering in Syria’s internal affairs and imposing their plans and agendas on the Syrian people.
Yi asserted his country’s rejection of all forms of economic pressure and sanctions used by certain sides against Syria.
He said that China continues to provide its full support to Syria in fighting terrorism, and that no-one must show leniency in this regard, as the consequences could be dire.
Yi affirmed his country’s position, which considers the Syrian Golan to be occupied territory, and that China rejects any unilateral actions that seek to change this reality.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
