Damascus, Syria: Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani has announced his government’s intention to deepen ties with China, describing Beijing as a vital strategic partner in the country’s post-Assad transition. The comments were made during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations, Fu Cong, at UN headquarters in New York.
A statement from Syria’s foreign ministry said Shaibani emphasized Damascus’s commitment to building a
“long-term strategic partnership”
with China, noting that the two nations
“will work together closely in the near future.”
The meeting took place on the sidelines of a UN Security Council session, where Shaibani has been representing Syria following the December ousting of longtime ruler Bashar Assad. China was one of Assad’s most consistent international allies during the Syrian civil war and has maintained close diplomatic ties with Damascus throughout the conflict.
“Strengthening relations with China is a key foreign policy priority for the new Syrian government,”
said Shaibani, who took office as part of the transitional administration led by interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa.
This is the latest in a series of high-level diplomatic engagements between Damascus and Beijing. In February, President Al-Sharaa held talks with China’s ambassador to Syria, underlining a mutual interest in reconstruction, trade, and security cooperation.
China has long advocated a policy of non-interference in Syria’s internal affairs while backing the country’s sovereignty at the United Nations. With Assad’s ousting and the formation of a new transitional government, Beijing is expected to play a growing role in Syria’s economic and diplomatic rehabilitation.
While details of the strategic partnership have not yet been made public, analysts suggest the agreement could involve Chinese investment in Syria’s war-torn infrastructure, energy sector, and participation in regional security coordination. As Syria attempts to stabilize after years of devastating civil conflict, partnerships with major global powers like China may prove critical to its reconstruction and re-engagement with the international community.
