Special report: Li Changchun Visits Five Countries

Li Changchun(L), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Syria, April 3, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    DAMASCUS, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on bilateral relations here on Thursday.

    Li said the friendship between China and Syria has weathered the tests of ever-changing international situations and is the common wealth of the two peoples.

    Materialization of the consensuses reached between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his counterpart Assad in developing bilateral relations in 2004 has pushed Sino-Syrian friendship to anew stage, he said.

    The CPC and the Chinese government attach great importance to the Sino-Syrian friendship and are willing to boost the mutual beneficial cooperation between the two countries, which conforms to the fundamental interests of the two peoples and is also beneficial to pushing forward the South-South cooperation and maintaining world peace and stability, said the senior Chinese official.

    Li said during his stay in Syria, he has talked with leaders of the Syrian Baath Arab Socialist Party (SBASP) and Syrian government officials in deepening party-to-party exchanges and expanding bilateral cooperation on economy and trade, infrastructure and water conservancy.

    The two sides have deepened mutual understanding and reached broad consensus, he added.

    The CPC, the Chinese government and people will unswervingly support Syria's just efforts in maintaining its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Li said.

    For his part, the Syrian president, who is also general secretary of the SBASP, highly appreciated China's achievements in its economic reform and opening-up, adding that to constantly intensify the friendly cooperation with China, which plays an important role in the world, is a strategic choice of Syria.

    Syria would as always stand with China on issues concerning China's sovereignty independence and territorial integrity, including the Taiwan and Tibet issue, Assad said, adding that Syria opposes any country to interfere in China's internal affairs and to jeopardize the Beijing Olympics in any excuse.

    Li, who arrived in Syria on Tuesday, returned to China later in the day after a five-nation tour which has also taken him to Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.