DAMASCUS,
June 21 (IslamOnline.net) – Syria’s President Bashar Assad pays
Monday, June 21, a historic visit to China, the first ever by a Syrian
head of state.
"The
visit will lay the groundwork for the reform process in Syria, which
sees Beijing as a paradigm for reforms," a Syrian source told
IslamOnline.net.
Editor-In-Chief
of Syria’s state-run Al-Thawra newspaper agreed that the
landmark visit demonstrated Damascus’ keenness on following in the
footsteps of Beijing’s open-door economic policy, growth rates and
political reforms.
A
senior Syrian economic official, who requested anonymity, said the
visit will pay off as it is expected to attract Chinese investments,
including a giant venture to produce cement at an estimated cost of
$150 million in addition to the establishment of textile factories.
He
said the talks between Assad and his Chinese counterpart Jintao Hu
will enhance the trade volume between both countries, which currently
stands at only $530 million.
The
Chinese technology is also high on the agenda to do away with the
American one in the wake of the US decision to impose economic
sanctions on Damascus.
Syria
by U.S. President George W. Bush into law last December, include a
near-blanket ban on US exports to Syria and the power to freeze Syrian
assets in the United States.
Except
for food and medicine and items intended for certain exempt entities
such as the US embassy, foreign diplomatic missions and UN agencies in
Damascus, all US exports to Syria, estimated at some $100 million a
year, are banned under the sanctions.
The
US resolution also bans the exportation of "dual-use"
technology and restricts overflight rights for Syrian aircraft inside
US airspace.
Message
To US
Analysts
said the visit is a message to the United States that the sanctions
are toothless.
They
said the sanctions, to the disappointment of the Bush administration,
will not isolate Syria from the international stage, noting that
China’s position was a case in point.
China
has reciprocated the Syrians' friendship overtures and keenness on
cementing bilateral relations.
Chinese
Foreign Minister Zhaoxing Li has welcomed Assad’s visit as a key
step towards strong cooperation in the days to come.
Proving
the friendship’s mettle, the Chinese top diplomat endorsed Syria’s
right to the occupied Golan Heights, as quoted by Syria’s official
news agency (SANA).
He
further rebuffed the US sanctions on Syria and double standards
policy.
A
Chinese diplomat in Damascus also highlighted the military cooperation
between both countries, pointing to the mutual visits of military
delegations.
Syria
has embarked on a PR campaign to curb the repercussions of the US
sanctions.
A
Syrian expert told IOL last month that Damascus
