Last week, China and Syria signed a Memorandum of Understanding to integrate Syria in the Belt and Road Initiative. Syria thus joins other countries in the Middle East that are partners in the initiative – Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. As part of the memorandum, signed by the head of the Syrian Planning and International Cooperation Committee Fadi al-Khalil, and the Chinese Ambassador to Syria, Feng Biao, an agreement was reached on expanding economic relations between Syria and China and other members countries in the initiative on trade, technology, communications, education, and culture.
For quite a few years, Syria has striven to strengthen relations with China, as additional support, alongside Russia and Iran. While the latter two countries do not have the economic capacity to help reconstruct the devastated country, in the Syrian view China might be a key investor. Cooperation with China is, in the view of the Damascus regime, a means of circumventing the economic sanctions imposed by the United States on Syria under the Caesar Act.
Unlike Syria, China does not earn significant economic benefits from the cooperation. Chinese companies often refrain from investing in countries that are not politically stable or are in a state of war, and conditions in Syria are still very far from providing them with the security needed for investment. Nonetheless, Chinese officials often make statements about future cooperation and promises of humanitarian aid, although in practice, these are of limited scope.
However, apart from economic considerations, the Memorandum of Understanding embodies a number of benefits for China: maintaining relations with Syria on a low flame; presenting a defiant stance at the US sanctions policy toward Arab country leaders; and creating an image that China is a "responsible power" taking an active and constructive part in maintaining development and stability in the Middle East. In addition, as the US and its allies criticize the human rights situation in China and call for a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympics, China requires other, more sympathetic voices to present to its domestic audience, creating a more positive image for itself.
Last week, China and Syria signed a Memorandum of Understanding to integrate Syria in the Belt and Road Initiative. Syria thus joins other countries in the Middle East that are partners in the initiative – Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey. As part of the memorandum, signed by the head of the Syrian Planning and International Cooperation Committee Fadi al-Khalil, and the Chinese Ambassador to Syria, Feng Biao, an agreement was reached on expanding economic relations between Syria and China and other members countries in the initiative on trade, technology, communications, education, and culture.
For quite a few years, Syria has striven to strengthen relations with China, as additional support, alongside Russia and Iran. While the latter two countries do not have the economic capacity to help reconstruct the devastated country, in the Syrian view China might be a key investor. Cooperation with China is, in the view of the Damascus regime, a means of circumventing the economic sanctions imposed by the United States on Syria under the Caesar Act.
Unlike Syria, China does not earn significant economic benefits from the cooperation. Chinese companies often refrain from investing in countries that are not politically stable or are in a state of war, and conditions in Syria are still very far from providing them with the security needed for investment. Nonetheless, Chinese officials often make statements about future cooperation and promises of humanitarian aid, although in practice, these are of limited scope.
However, apart from economic considerations, the Memorandum of Understanding embodies a number of benefits for China: maintaining relations with Syria on a low flame; presenting a defiant stance at the US sanctions policy toward Arab country leaders; and creating an image that China is a "responsible power" taking an active and constructive part in maintaining development and stability in the Middle East. In addition, as the US and its allies criticize the human rights situation in China and call for a diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympics, China requires other, more sympathetic voices to present to its domestic audience, creating a more positive image for itself.