Opinion | Honored by Xi to grace green Asian Games, Bashar Assad stands to catapult war-torn Syria off its catastrophe

By Augustus K. Yeung

INTRODUCTION

Featuring the world's first amalgamation of traditional sporting and e-sports events, China put forth its high-technologically programmed, and green powered Asian Games (being one of the world's biggest multi-sports events). It must have been an eagerly awaited competition – as the region struggles to recover from the pandemic.

Imagine 12,000 athletes from 45 countries and territories will compete in 40 sports; thousands of journalists and numerous VIPs, including state leaders – with President Assad of Syria topping the long list.

Common to countries that have suffered greatly from the U.S.-led wars, Syria under President Bashar Assad has been reeling in poverty and pain – but has now teamed up with China which pledges full strategic partnership and promises great economic opportunities.

With America still calling the shots in many parts of the world, both China and Syria would have to work hard for national unification, rejuvenation, and economic development.

The best of everything (from material to non-material) may well come from close cooperation through exchanges. And the world-class gold and green glory sports events in Hangzhou, would be a timely good starting point – for building a new chapter in the sad story of Syria and President Assad's personal biography.

How happy it would be to learn that Syria – a wounded country in the world under the United States hegemony, which subscribes indiscriminately to the moral and military dictates of the Monroe Doctrine – must have found in China, a success role model.

With China's red star rising, Assad's visit to Beijing would bring economic prosperity and peace to both countries…

Syrian President Bashar Assad arrived in China yesterday on his first visit to the country since the start of Syria's 12-year conflict – during which Beijing has been one of his main backers.

China's foreign ministry said Assad would attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Games, an international sports event beginning Saturday in the eastern city of Hangzhou.

Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Assad's visit to China would "further deepen political mutual trust and cooperation in various fields between the two countries and push bilateral relations to a new level."

China and Syria have "a tradition of profound friendship," which has "maintained a healthy and stable development" over the years.

Assad and President Xi were set to meet for "in-depth talks" on a range of issues, she added.

President Xi was expected to arrive there today and hold a banquet and other bilateral activities honoring Assad and other heads of state and government attending the games from countries, including Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Kuwait's crown prince Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmed Al Jaber and Nepali Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, according to foreign ministry.

China has been expanding its reach in the Middle East after mediating an unexpected deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran…

(China has been expanding its reach in the Middle East after mediating a deal in March between Saudi Arabia and Iran.) Beijing continues to support Assad in the conflict, which has killed half a million people and left large parts of the nation in ruins – since America first lit the fuse in Syria.

China could play a major role in the future in Syria's reconstruction. Syria last year joined China's Belt and Road Initiative – in which Beijing expands its influence in developing regions through infrastructure projects.

Assad's office said that the Syrian leader was greatly honored by President Xi's visit and would bring with him a high-ranking Syrian delegation.

Syria's worsening economic crisis has led to protests in government-held parts of the country. Syria blames America for the crisis on Western sanctions and U.S.-backed Kurdish-led fighters – who control the country's largest oil fields.

Diplomatic contacts between Syria and other Arab countries have intensified following the February 6 earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria killing more than 50,000 people, including over 6,000 in Syria.

Assad flew to Saudi Arabia in May where he attended the Arab League summit days after Syria's membership was reinstated in the 22-member league.

Note: Since Syria's conflict began in March 2011 with pro-democracy protests and later turned into a civil war, Iran and Russia have helped Assad regain control of much of the country. China has used its veto power at the U.N. eight times to stop resolutions against Assad's government, the latest in July 2020.

Assad's last and only visit to China was in 2004, a year after the U.S.-led invasion of neighboring Iraq and at a time when Washington was putting pressure on Syria. (Source: MDT/AP)

CONCLUSION

President Assad's visit to China may be one of the many visits that are happening in Beijing, but foreign countries have now come far and wide, ranging from Europe, Africa and the Middle East, etc.

It seems that globalization has now seen its new height since China's push into the ordinarily remote parts of the world such as Syria in the Middle East, which has been a mysterious country until recently.

With its new membership in the China-initiated Belt and Road, Syria's days of poverty and suffering may witness an end day by day.

Indonesia, a rising ASEAN member, is an excellent example since partnering with China, which is totally oblivious to war and weaponization – unlike the United States that has been touching, tampering and torching many developing countries since World War II.

Specifically, China's forever expanding BRI stands an excellent chance of helping to baptize the war-torn Syria, building people-to-people contacts, exchanging goods and services that would improve the country's quality of life.

China's sad story of century of humiliation has helped to motivate its people, and with the CPC functioning as the country's brain and backbone, the days of its people are improving day by day.

By the same token, following the same logic, and toeing China's footpath, Syria under Assad – a now more mature leader baptized by fire – would be a rising star in the Middle East.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

 

To contact the writer, please direct email: AugustusKYeung@ymail.com

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