Syrian President Al-Assad Will Reportedly Visit China

On 20 September, the government-aligned Syrian newspaper Al-Watan carried a report saying that President Bashar Al-Assad “will visit China this week.” A number of Chinese sources also posted about the visit.

Picture from main page of Al-Watan that reads: “Syrian-Chinese Relations”. Al-Watan has been running a regular column covering Syrian-Chinese agenda since September 2020

Al-Watan reported that Al-Assad will hold a summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He will also attend the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Al-Watan also stated that China is paying special attention to President Al-Assad’s visit and they attributed such comment to “media sources they contacted.” They continue to say that “China has become a major player in the Middle East and the world and is interested in developing relations between the two countries.” Al-Watan Telegram account said the visit “comes at a time when the world is witnessing major political changes aimed at putting an end to American hegemony over the world, and the formation of new political, economic blocs”.

Source: Al-Watan/ Telegram

According to Al-Watan, Al-Assad will be accompanied by Faisal Al-Mekdad, Minister of Foreign Affaires and Expatriates, Mohammad Samer Al-Khalil, Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Mansour Azzam, Minister of Presidential Affaires, Bouthaina Shaaban, Political and Media Advisor to the Presidency, Ayman Sousan, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affaires and Expatriates, Luna al-Shibl, Special Advisor to the Presidency, Imad Moustapha, Director of the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affaires and Expatriates, Soraya Idlibi, Assistant Head of the Planning and International Cooperation Authority, and Syrian Ambassador to China Mohammed Khaddam.

The article also stated that Al-Assad will “attend expanded bilateral discussion sessions in Hangzhou and then will move to Beijing to meet with senior Chinese officials.”

A number of Chinese sources posted several mentions of the visit, but fell short of including any details. ‘Voa Chinese’ posted an article about Al-Assad’s arrival to China using the same Syrian rhetoric. Sohu News published a commentary by an unnamed Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson who advised “to follow the updates as Foreign Ministry release them.”

Source: Sohu News

Sohu News’s post in Chinese saying: “AFP: Syrian President Bashar Assad is expected to visit China starting tomorrow. Can the spokesperson introduce the details of this visit? Will Assad hold his first meeting with President Xi Jinping?

Mao Ning: We will release news in due course, please stay tuned”.