Al-Assad confers with Chinese vice President

President Bashar al-Assad at 6 p.m. at al-Shaab palace in Damascus received China's vice President Ho Jentao and members and members of the accompanying delegation.

Present at the meeting was vice- President Abdul Halim Khaddam Talks dealt with means of strengthening bilateral relations in all fields in the service of the two countries, regional and international developments and concentration was made on the situation in the Arab region.

The Chinese side stressed his country's stand beside the Arabs in their just and legitimate struggle to liberate the occupied Arab lands, restoring back the usurped Arab rights and establishing just and comprehensive peace on the ground of International legitimacy resolutions and the land for peace formula.

President al- Assad praised Syrian- Chinese relations and China's backing for the Arabs in their struggle for the sake of a just and comprehensive peace which l provides for the liberation of the occupied Arab lands and gives the Palestinians their due rights.

The Chinese vice president extended an invitation to President bashar al-Assad to visit China and the President promised to pay this visit at due time.

The President also held a dinner banquet in honor of the Chinese vice President. It was attended by high ranking Syrian officials and the delegation accompanying the visiting Chinese official.