Syria’s Assad to visit China on Thursday

By Ikram Kouachi

ANKARA (AA) – Head of the Syrian regime, Bashar al-Assad, will make an official visit to China on Thursday, the Syrian Presidency said.

The visit, the first by Assad to Beijing since the outbreak of civil war in Syria, comes upon an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

According to the statement, Assad and Xi will hold summit talks during the visit.

"The visit will include a number of meetings and events" in the capital Beijing and Hangzhou city, the statement said.

Syria has been embroiled in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.

In 2021, Assad met in Damascus with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi where they discussed Syria’s participation in China's "Belt and Road" infrastructure and trade initiative, the Syrian presidency said at the time.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi