Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on Monday received a letter from Chinese President Jiang Zemin.
The letter was delivered to President Assad by Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister, Yang Win Chang, in the course of a meeting with the Syrian leader, in the presence of Foreign Minister Farouk Al-Shara and China’s Ambassador in Damascus.
The letter dealt with the traditional relations of friendship and coordination between the two countries and included an invitation for Syria’s President to visit the Republic of China.
The President, in return, promised to visit China at a "convenient time", according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.
During the meeting, President Assad praised China’s just stance regarding the Middle East and Asian issues of discussion at the Security Council. He expressed hope that China would be more active in conducting its external role.
On his part, Chang said Beijing expresses gratitude for Damascus’ position regarding unified China and efforts being exerted by Syria to unify China peacefully.
Furthermore, the Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister said China is proud to have a friend like Syria, hailing the important role Syria played at the Security Council till resolution 1441 was issued.
With regards to the Middle East, Chang said that the basic reason for escalating tension and confrontations between the Palestinians and the Israelis is due to the Israeli government’s “intransigence and her rejection of implementing the (UN) Security Council resolutions as well as her rejection of the principle of land for peace”, SANA added.
Meanwhile, later that day, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Al-Shara received the Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister and an accompanying delegation.
During their meeting, talks centered on regional and international issues. Shara reiterated the necessity of implementing the international legitimacy resolutions in a just way, far away from selectivity and double standard policy and in a way that guarantees countries territorial integrity in line with the principles and goals of the United Nations Charter, the news agency further said.
In addition, talks focused on friendship relations between Syria and China and ways of strengthening them. The meeting was attended by a number of Foreign Ministry officials and China’s Ambassador in Damascus. (Albawaba.com)
