Syria's Assad in China, seeks to end isolation

Reuters Videos
1 年前

STORY: Assad arrived aboard an Air China plane in a heavy fog, which Chinese state media said "added to the atmosphere of mystery" in a nod to the fact the Syrian leader has seldom been seen outside his country since the start of a civil war that has claimed more than half a million lives.

He is set to attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Games, along with more than a dozen foreign dignitaries, before leading a delegation for meetings in several Chinese cities, including a summit with President Xi Jinping.

Being seen alongside China's president at a regional gathering should add further legitimacy to Syria's campaign to slowly return to the world stage, during which it has joined China's Belt and Road Initiative in 2022 and been re-admitted in May to the 22-nation strong Arab League.