China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, expressed deep concern over the situation in Syria during a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, on Friday in Beijing. The two diplomats discussed the escalating situation in Syria following the sudden collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which was toppled by a swift offensive led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and its allies.
Beijing and Damascus had maintained strong relations during Assad’s rule, with Assad himself visiting China last year, meeting President Xi Jinping, and establishing a “strategic partnership”. Wang emphasized the importance of respecting Syria’s sovereignty and preventing terrorist and extremist forces from exploiting the ongoing chaos. He also stressed the need for peace and stability in the Middle East.
Wang’s comments followed a two-day “strategic dialogue” between China and Egypt, where both sides underscored the need for negotiations to achieve peace. Wang also addressed the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which has caused widespread humanitarian crises over the past 14 months. He reiterated China’s support for Palestinian statehood and called for an end to the humanitarian disasters in Gaza.
“The Middle East is facing repeated conflicts that threaten international peace and security,” Wang said, urging Middle Eastern countries and the international community to reflect on the region’s future and learn from the ongoing turmoil.
