Syria19 October, 20253 min read
Syrian Foreign Minister Announces Official Visit to China to Restore Ties After Assad Ouster
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani will visit China officially in early November. The visit follows efforts to restore and improve Syria-China relations after Assad's ouster.
5 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on Asad Al-Shaibani Meets Saddam Haftar in Benghazi Over Syrian Consulate And Missing Syrians →
Syria-China Diplomatic Relations
Syria’s new foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, announced an official visit to China in early November to strengthen ties and seek Beijing’s support for reconstruction after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad. The New Arab reports this as part of a broader shift, noting that the outreach follows the December 2024 rebel offensive that removed Assad and installed President Ahmed al-Sharaa. It adds that talks will focus on economic cooperation and China’s role in rebuilding.
“Al-Shibani emphasized Syria’s need for China’s support in reconstruction efforts under the new administration of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, following the December 2024 rebel offensive that removed Assad.”
AW underscores that the trip comes at China’s invitation and frames the move as redefining relations despite Beijing’s prior strong backing of Assad. وكالة صدى نيوز highlights that this will be al-Shibani’s first official visit and emphasizes the push for “genuine strategic partnerships” as Syria re-enters the international arena.
China-Syria Economic Relations
On the China track, all sources agree the agenda centers on economic cooperation and reconstruction, but they diverge on emphasis and detail. AW notes that despite Beijing’s earlier defense of Assad — including UN Security Council vetoes and a 2023 strategic partnership — Damascus now seeks a more “genuine strategic partnership,” and says the trip was initiated by a Chinese invitation.
The New Arab calls the outreach a clear shift from China’s prior political backing of Assad and says talks will focus on China’s role in rebuilding. وكالة صدى نيوز adds that relations are improving after years of Beijing’s alignment with the former government, situating the push within Syria’s broader bid to re-enter the international arena.
Shifts in Syria-Russia Relations
The New Arab reports that Moscow has suspended prior agreements with the former Assad government and that no new deals have been signed. Al-Shibani criticized Russia’s past support as contributing to Syrian suffering before Assad’s overthrow. AW echoes that previous agreements remain suspended with no new deals, calling this a more cautious engagement.
“Regarding Russia, al-Shibani stated that Moscow has suspended prior agreements made with the former Assad government, with no new deals signed, reflecting a cautious and gradual engagement.”
وكالة صدى نيوز goes further, saying Damascus has distanced itself from Moscow and leaves previous accords unrecognized. This underscores a sharper political break with a key Assad-era ally.
Syria-Lebanon Relations Update
Regionally, al-Shibani is also attempting a reset with Lebanon. The New Arab reports efforts to restore ties and shed the prior regime’s negative portrayal of Lebanon. A priority is resolving the cases of over 2,100 Syrian detainees in Lebanese prisons, following his Beirut visit and ongoing legal talks.
وكالة صدى نيوز similarly highlights rebuilding trust with Lebanon, improving Lebanon’s image in Syria, addressing detainees, and facilitating the dignified return of refugees. It notes that his visit was the first by a Syrian minister since the regime change. AW, however, focuses on the China track and does not cover the Lebanon outreach in its snippet.
Syria's Domestic and International Strategy
Domestically, وكالة صدى نيوز reports that Damascus is pairing external outreach with internal consolidation. It cites a March 10 agreement with the SDF to integrate civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria. The report calls implementation a historic opportunity to unify the country and enable returns of displaced civilians.
“On security matters, Al-Shaibani discussed the March 10 agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to integrate civil and military institutions in northeastern Syria.”
It also notes plans to improve living conditions, attract investment, and project a stabilizing message at the UN General Assembly. The New Arab and AW, while not discussing the SDF or UNGA, align on the economic-reconstruction logic driving the China visit. They frame Beijing’s role as central to rebuilding under the new administration.