By Laith Al-jnaidi and Rania Abu Shamala
DAMASCUS/ISTANBUL (AA) - Syria and China declared Wednesday the importance of strengthening relations in a way that serves the interests of both countries, according to a statement by the Syrian Foreign Ministry.
It came during a meeting in Damascus between Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and a Chinese delegation headed by Beijing’s envoy Shi Hongwei.
The statement noted that both sides emphasized “the importance of consolidating relations between the Syrian Arab Republic and the People’s Republic of China in a manner that serves both countries and promotes prosperity, progress, and peace in both nations.”
Shaibani welcomed China’s stance on repeated Israeli violations in southern Syria.
He also expressed a readiness to enhance cooperation between the two nations in ways that support the interests of the Syrian people, according to the statement.
Shi affirmed “China’s respect for Syria’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence, as well as non-interference in its internal affairs, and support for Syria during its transitional phase to overcome the current challenges.”
Bashar Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led anti-regime forces to oust Assad, was declared president for a transitional period in late January.