Al-Assad stresses desire to develop relations with China

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday at the Damascus al-Shaab palace received a delegation from the political Consultative National Council for the Chinese people led by the deputy chairman of the council Young Zawadi.

The Chinese delegate conveyed to President al-Assad greetings of the Chinese President Jiang Zemin and the President asked his guest to convey similar greetings to the Chinese President.

Talks dealt with bilateral relations and means of developing them in various areas. The two sides also "discussed the situation in the region, emerging from Israel's anti peace stances and its aggression against the Palestinian people."

The Chinese official criticized Israel's stances concerning peace. He said that China backs Syria's right to restore back the occupied Golan and stands against the unipolar policy in the world.

President al-Assad expressed Syria's desire to increase the development of relations with China. He also expressed Syria's appreciation of China stances in backing the struggle mounted by Syria and the Arab states for liberating their occupied lands and restoring back their usurped rights.