Beijing, 9 Sep (ZXS) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who came to China to attend the opening ceremony of the 25th Asian Games in Hangzhou, at the Great Hall of the People on the morning of 25 September.
Li Qiang said that the friendship between China and Syria has a long history, and the two countries are true friends who are in the same boat through thick and thin. President Xi Jinping and Mr. President held a fruitful meeting in Hangzhou and jointly announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Syria, which drew a new blueprint and injected new momentum into the development of bilateral relations. China is willing to work with Syria to implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, promote bilateral cooperation to continuously achieve new results, and better benefit the two peoples.
Li Qiang pointed out that China will continue to firmly support Syria in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, follow a development path suited to its national conditions, and resolutely oppose interference by external forces in Syria's internal affairs. China welcomes Syria's participation in the joint construction of the "Belt and Road", will continue to support Syria in carrying out reconstruction and recovery of development, and is willing to expand bilateral economic and trade exchanges with Syria, import more high-quality Syrian products, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in cultural tourism, youth, local and other humanities fields, and promote people-to-people understanding and affinity. China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Syria to vigorously combat terrorism and safeguard the common security of both sides. Today's world is not at peace, and the two sides should further unite and cooperate to resist risks, oppose hegemony, safeguard international fairness and justice, and better safeguard the common interests of the two countries and developing countries.
Bashar congratulated China on successfully hosting the opening ceremony of the Hangzhou Asian Games and thanked China for its valuable assistance in supporting Syria's economic and social development, alleviating the humanitarian crisis and fighting earthquake relief. Bashar said that China plays an important role in international affairs, Syria-China relations are increasingly consolidated, mutual trust is deepening, and Syria is proud to establish a strategic partnership with China. Syria supports the "Belt and Road" initiative and the three major global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, and is willing to work with China to implement the above initiatives, further deepen cooperation in the economic, cultural and other fields, and safeguard the common interests of both sides.
Wu Zhenglong attended the meeting. (End)