China expressed on Monday its readiness to steer its relationship with Syria back on the right track, pledging support for the Middle Eastern country to achieve peace at an early date.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with Syria's interim foreign minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani.

Shaibani's visit marked the first by a senior official from Syria's interim government since its formation in March, signaling Syria's broader efforts to reengage with the international community.

Wang emphasized the long-standing friendship and shared interests between China and Syria, reaffirming China's commitment to a foreign policy of friendship and respect for the choices of the Syrian people.

The Chinese side appreciates Syria's commitment to the one-China principle and expressed hope that Syria will firmly support the Chinese people's just cause of opposing "Taiwan independence "separatist forces and achieving national reunification, so as to jointly uphold the political foundation of bilateral relations, he said.

Wang acknowledged Syria's pledge to prevent any entity from using its territory to undermine China's interests, particularly regarding the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, an international terrorist organization designated by the United Nations Security Council.

In response, Shaibani reaffirmed Syria's adherence to the one-China principle and emphasized that Syria highly values China's security concerns, firmly opposing all forms of terrorism.

As next year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of China-Syria relations, Wang said the two sides need to gradually resume exchanges at various levels and in various fields.

China welcomes Syria's participation in the joint building of the Belt and Road, he said.

People's livelihoods

Wang expressed China's willingness to actively consider taking part in Syria's economic reconstruction and contribute to its social development and improvement of people's livelihoods.

He also voiced China's support for Syria in achieving peace at an early date, adhering to a "Syrian-led and Syrian-owned" political transition process, actively integrating into the international community and finding a reconstruction plan that meets people's aspirations through political dialogue.

For his part, Shaibani said that Syria holds China in high regard and places great emphasis on its ties with the country.

He expressed gratitude to China for its support of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its long-term assistance to the Syrian people.

Wang Guangda, secretary-general of the China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development and a professor at Shanghai International Studies University, said the Syrian interim government's outreach reflects its strategy of diplomatic diversification — an effort to avoid overreliance on any single country or bloc and broaden its international partnerships.

It also underscores its awareness of China's influence as a permanent UN Security Council member, he said. Despite active international outreach, he said Syria's domestic situation remains fragile, with fundamental issues, including economic recovery, still unresolved.