Syria and China announce a strategic partnership
Syria is struggling to return to the international stage. Over the past year, Damascus has taken important steps that have allowed it to leave behind the regional and international isolation to which it has been subjected after more than a decade of war. Syria's return to the Arab League in May was a major success for Damascus, bringing it closer to the Arab countries of the Middle East.
Syria's return to the pan-Arab body had been on the table for several years, although it began to gain particular momentum after the devastating earthquake in the northwest of the country last February. Several neighbouring nations then began to re-establish contacts with the Syrian authorities with a view to providing aid. These contacts were subsequently maintained and culminated in Damascus' return to the organisation, facilitating Syria's reintegration into the region.
After resuming relations at the regional level, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has decided to strengthen ties with China, one of the few countries the Syrian leader has visited since the beginning of the conflict in 2011. The Asian giant has also been, along with Russia and Iran, one of the few international partners Damascus has counted on in recent years.
In order to break out of international isolation, strengthen alliances and seek financial assistance to rebuild the war-torn country, al-Assad has travelled to China, with which he has announced a 'strategic partnership'.
According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, relations between Damascus and Beijing enter "a new level" with the visit of the Syrian president, who thanked the Chinese government for "all it has done to support the Syrian people in their cause and their trials", reports the Syrian news agency SANA.
"This visit is extremely important because of its timing and circumstances, because today a multipolar world is being formed that will restore balance and stability to the world," Al-Assad also stressed.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said that bilateral ties "have been resilient" despite international changes. Xi also reaffirmed Beijing's support for Damascus in 'opposing foreign interference, unilateral intimidation and safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity'.
In this regard, Xi also urged all countries to lift "illegal unilateral" sanctions against Syria. Several nations, led by the United States and the European Union, have imposed sanctions against Damascus for repression and violence against government opponents during the war.
The Chinese president has pledged to help the Syrian government rebuild the country, both economically and industrially. However, as several analysts point out, Chinese companies are hesitant to return to Syria, as they risk being sanctioned by the United States under the Caesar Act of 2020, a Washington-driven measure against Damascus that allows freezing the assets of anyone with ties to the country. This law is a major impediment to Syria's development, as it encourages the impoverishment of the nation and prevents any business from setting up in the country.
Al-Assad's visit to China is also important for Beijing, as it allows it to further consolidate its presence in the Middle East. Thanks to its relations with several countries in the region, such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, the Asian giant is boosting its influence and interests in the region in the face of US misgivings.
Through economics, trade and diplomacy, China is becoming a key player in the Middle East. The agreement between Riyadh and Tehran in March reaffirmed this new trend as Washington tries to regain its weight in the region.
"China is reinforcing its message that it is there to try to help countries resolve their disputes and that peace comes from economic development," Matteo Legrenzi, professor of international relations at Ca'Foscari, University of Venice, tells Reuters. In addition to ending the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Iran, China has even emerged as a possible mediator between Israelis and Palestinians.