The China Trip
Possibly there is no definable time of when the silk route started,but it is safe to say that it has endured for 2000 years or so on and off. Indeed, the routes of exchange and products were many over time. The history of the Silk Roads is a narrative about movement, resettlement, and interactions across porous borders . It is also the story of artistic exchange and the spread and mixing of religions, all set against the background of the rise and fall of polities which encompassed a wide range of cultures and peoples..
Work on this initiative never paused and on July 17, 2021, President al-Assad discussed with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Syria’s participation in the “Belt and Road” Initiative and
on November 5, 2021, President Al-Assad affirmed, during a phone call with President Xi Jinping, Syria’s keenness to develop the relationship between the two countries, and to join the “Belt and Road” initiative, which constitutes a path for economy and development, and a new way in which countries deal with each other in order to link the common destiny of peoples and humanity, while the Chinese President stressed that the friendship between his country and Syria is rooted in the depths of history, and he also welcomed Syria’s participation in the initiative.
On January 12, 2022, Syria and China signed a memorandum of understanding within the framework of the “Belt and Road” Initiative, according to which Syria joined the initiative, which helps open broad horizons of cooperation between the two countries, and with a number of other countries partners in the initiative in several fields, including the exchange of goods, technology and capital, activating the movement of individuals and enhancing cultural exchange.
On April 29, 2023, during his meeting with Chinese Special Envoy to the Middle East Zhai Jun, President Al-Assad stressed the importance of the “Belt and Road” Initiative in achieving development and economic cooperation, explaining that since the confrontation has always been primarily based on economy, liberation from the restriction of dealing with the dollar has become necessary, and that the BRICS countries can play a leading role in this field, in addition to the option of adopting the Chinese yuan in commercial transactions between countries, while the Chinese official indicated that his country views relations with Syria from a strategic perspective, and within a comprehensive vision for the region.
All this culminated in a special visit by President Bashar Al Assad and Mrs.Assad to the People’s Republic of China on September 21st 2023.Agreements were signed that cemented the work done on this initiative and formed a strategic partnership ,but what was just as important as the agreements signed was the similar vision shared by the two sides – a vision that encompassed humanity, nonpolarization
and the quest to rid the world of the yoke of the dollar.In this visit Syria depicted clearly that it looks to the East which is where Syria is geopolitically to form lasting bridges that will pave the way to lasting partnerships.
President Al Assad re affirmed Syria’s stance towards the one China policy.He thanked the Chinese people for standing by Syria politically and economically throughout the cruel war waged on it.
He stated that Syria is looking foreword to China’s present and future role through three initiatives-the Global Civilization Initiative, the Global security Initiative and the Global Development Initiative which means that there is benefit exchange rather than winning at the expense of the other .
Maybe the skirt Mrs.Assad wore on arriving to China was a message to the world -for she wore Damascene brocade a reminder of all there was and is to come along the route of partnership between Syria and China.
Reem Haddad
Editor-in-Chief