Damascus – Exclusive In a historic move reflecting a radical shift in Syrian foreign policy, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani heads to China on Sunday in the first official visit by an official from President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government. The visit, in response to an official invitation from Beijing, marks a starting point for rebuilding relations between Damascus and Beijing after years of Chinese support for the previous regime. According to the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Media Department, al-Shibani will hold talks with high-level Chinese officials, focusing on reconstruction and mutual interests. The Ministry announced on Saturday via the official SANA news agency that the visit will be al-Shibani’s first official trip to the People’s Republic of China. In statements made last October to the government-run Al-Ikhbariya al-Souriya channel, al-Shibani confirmed his intention to conduct this visit in November, stating: “We have corrected our relationship with China, which previously stood politically beside the fallen Bashar al-Assad regime and used its veto in its favor. Syria needs China at this stage for reconstruction.”

This development comes amid a fundamental transformation in bilateral relations. China was one of the most prominent supporters of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, having elevated ties to a “strategic partnership” during al-Assad’s visit to Beijing in September 2023. Following the overthrow of the previous regime in December 2024, Syria under President Ahmed al-Sharaa seeks to strengthen its regional and international presence through relations based on mutual respect and shared interests. According to the World Bank report (October 2025), the cost of reconstructing Syria after 13 years of conflict is estimated between $140 billion and $345 billion, with a conservative initial estimate of $216 billion (10 times the projected 2024 GDP). The report includes: Direct physical damage: $108 billion

Infrastructure: $52 billion (48% of direct damage)

Residential buildings: $33 billion

Non-residential buildings: $23 billion

China has shown interest in investing in Syria’s reconstruction, especially after Syria joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2022. Syria joined the Belt and Road Initiative in 2022, but Chinese investments remained limited due to Western sanctions.

With Washington lifting most sanctions (May–June 2025), Chinese and Western investments in reconstruction are expected to surge. Al-Shibani stated: “China will not be just an ally — it will be a partner in building Syria’s future.”

This statement signals a shift in Syrian diplomacy following the formation of the new government, as Damascus seeks to attract Chinese investments under the Belt and Road Initiative to contribute to rebuilding the country. Will Beijing transition from a supporter of al-Assad… to the architect of al-Sharaa’s renaissance?