Syrian and Chinese leaders announce strategic partnership during Assad's visit to China

(Patria) - China and Syria announced the formation of a strategic partnership on Friday as Chinese leader Xi Jinping
began a series of diplomatic meetings ahead of the upcoming Asian Games, AP reported.

Xi met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in the southern Chinese city of Hangzhou, which is hosting the sporting event.

"Faced with an unstable and uncertain international situation, China is willing to work with Syria to firmly support each other... and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice," Xi said in a video posted online by state broadcaster CCTV.

Assad's visit is in some ways parallel to Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit last year to the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. He will attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Games on Saturday evening along with the King of Cambodia, the Prince of Kuwait, and the prime ministers of Nepal, East Timor, and South Korea.

Assad, who rarely travels abroad, is seeking ways to emerge from international isolation. He was expected to discuss China's economic assistance, which could play an important role in Syria's future reconstruction.

Syrian state TV quoted Assad as thanking Xi and his government for siding with the Syrian people "during the crisis and suffering." China has supported Assad, using its veto power in the UN Security Council eight times to block resolutions against his government.

Xi told Assad that China supports Syria in resisting external interference and unilateral bullying and in promoting a Syrian-led political solution, Chinese CCTV reported. Assad expressed hope that the meeting would be the basis for "broad and long-term strategic cooperation in all fields" between China and Syria.