On the foundation anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, Damascus and Beijing are committed to the spirit of the Silk Road

Damascus (ST): On October 1st,the People’s Republic of China celebrates the 72nd anniversary of the founding of New China, which today has become the second-largest economy, the largest trading country, the world’s first investment destination and the largest trading partner of 120 countries and regions.

Relations between Syria and China have maintained their sound and stable development, and the two countries have continued to exchange support on various issues of concern to their peoples and work to develop friendly relations between them and the establishment of a community of shared future for mankind.

During the war that Syria was exposed to, communication continued between the two countries at various levels, as China supported Syria in its war on terrorism by using its veto power 10 times at the UN Security Council and calling for a political process led by the Syrians themselves and appealing to the international community to lift all unilateral measures and the economic blockade imposed on Syria, in addition to China’s firm position in supporting Syria’s efforts to preserve sovereignty and the integrity of its national territory.

The exchange of official visits and delegations between the two countries continued during the war years, the most recent of which was the visit of State Counselor and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Damascus last July in a clear message to the world that China supports the Syrian government and people and rejects foreign interference and power politics.

Syria, for its part, provided firm support to China on issues related to its core interests and major issues through its rejection of external interference in Chinese internal affairs, its support for Beijing’s position regarding the file revealing the source of the Coronavirus, and its refusal for Western countries to exploit this file to distort China’s image.

The two countries committed to the spirit of the Silk Road and this was reflected in economic cooperation and China’s provision of humanitarian and medical support to Syria during the war, as well as to confront the Corona pandemic, as it provided aid in various economic fields during the years of the crisis. It also delivered to Syria 300,000 doses of the anti-Corona vaccine, and it is in the process of completing sending 500,000 doses. 

The two countries are currently consulting about signing the framework agreement for cooperation within the Chinese “Belt and Road” initiative, which is consistent with the strategy launched by President Bashar al-Assad to head east. 

The two countries cooperate fruitfully in the fields of education and culture, as Syria participated in the Forum on Dialogue between Asian Civilizations, which was held in China in 2019, and displayed 232 artifacts, while the number of Syrian arrivals in China reached 595 in 2020, including 154 students for Chinese government scholarships.

K.Q.