As China opens to Sharaa, Uyghurs and reconstruction shadow future ties with Syria
China’s approach to Syria will likely hinge on what the new government does about the Uyghurs in its ranks.
With President Bashar al-Assad out, Syria’s foreign relations are shifting significantly. Amid these changes, China, once a friend of Assad, is recalibrating, opening to the new Syrian government with two meetings since new President Ahmed al-Sharaa assumed power.
The most recent meeting took place on Wednesday, when Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani hosted a Chinese delegation in Damascus led by Chinese Ambassador to Syria Shi Hongwei. According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, Shibani “stressed the importance of strengthening relations” between Syria and China, while Hongwei “expressed his readiness to enhance cooperation.”
Last month, Hongwei met Sharaa, who came to power after the rebel group he led toppled Assad in December 2024, but no details of their discussion were disclosed.
However their relationship takes shape, two key issues will be at play between China and Syria going forward. China seeks first and foremost to ensure that any Uyghur presence in Syria poses no threat to Chinese security. Syria, on the other hand, after a protracted civil war, is looking for foreign actors willing to assist in its reconstruction. The cost of rebuilding Syria is estimated at anywhere from $250 billion to $400 billion. Syria has already courted billions in aid from Europe, but its long-term reconstruction will require much more investment. In theory, China is well positioned to help with reconstruction costs, but the Uyghur obstacle and international sanctions pose challenges to any Chinese involvement.
