Chinese president calls on West to lift sanctions against Syria

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on the West to lift sanctions on Syria and offered Beijing’s help in rebuilding the war-torn country, in a rare conversation with the Syrian leader who has faced ostracism, Bashar al-Assad.

The meeting in the Chinese city of Hangzhou gave momentum to Assad’s campaign to return to the global stage, allowing China to advance its strategic interests in the Middle East, where it is already aligned with Saudi Arabia and Iran.

“China opposes the interference of external forces in Syria’s internal affairs… and calls on all relevant countries to withdraw illegal and unilateral sanctions against Syria,” according to a transcript of the conversations published by Chinese state media.

Xi also told Assad that China will help Syria rebuild its crumbling economy and fight internal unrest, raising ties between the countries to the level of a “strategic partnership.”

In Chinese diplomacy, a “strategic partnership” implies closer coordination in regional and international affairs, including the military sphere. This is one step below what Beijing calls a “comprehensive strategic partnership.”

Western sanctions against Syria have been increasingly tightened since the civil war began in 2011, with a crackdown on protests that ended up killing hundreds of thousands of people and leaving millions of refugees.

Backed by Russia and Iran, Assad’s government now controls most of Syria’s territory and in recent years has reestablished ties with Arab neighbors who once supported his adversaries.

Source: Terra

Rose

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