(MENAFN) China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Syrian top diplomat Asaad al-Shaibani in Beijing on Monday to discuss areas of “common interests,” according to official statements.

This marks al-Shaibani’s first visit to China since President Ahmad al-Sharaa established a new government in Syria this January, following the removal of the Bashar al-Assad administration last December.

Wang highlighted the historical bonds between the two nations, telling the Syrian foreign minister, “The friendly exchanges between China and Syria have a long history, with the ancient Silk Road connecting the two peoples.” He added that China “pursues a friendly policy towards all the Syrian people and respects the choices made by the Syrian people independently.”

Next year will mark 70 years of diplomatic relations between China and Syria. During the visit, Wang and al-Shaibani also issued a joint statement. According to reports, Wang emphasized that the two countries share “vast common interests” and stated that China “will continue to uphold the principles of non-interference in internal affairs and turn the bilateral relations back on the right track.”

He further noted that “Syria should prevent any entities from using its territory to conduct activities that undermine China’s national security, sovereignty, and interests,” while stressing that the nations should “gradually resume exchanges at all levels and in all fields.”

Wang also expressed China’s willingness to support Syria’s economic recovery, saying the country is “willing to actively consider participating in Syria's economic reconstruction and contribute to Syria's social development and improvement of people's livelihoods.”

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