Syria's Bashar Al Assad to meet Xi Jinping on first China visit in almost two decades

THE NATIONAL NEWS

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"Now that the regime is more stable and confident than it was five years ago, it's looking to start rebuilding, but the question is where is the money going to come from," Guy Burton, an adjunct professor at The Brussels School of Governance told The National.

"Trying to attract money from Abu Dhabi and Dubai would be attractive, but (Assad) has never overlooked the possibility of the Chinese."

He said the trip also shows the president is feeling more confident in holding on to power after regaining rebel-held territory lost in the civil war.

"Going to Abu Dhabi and now China suggests that he is a lot more confident about his position and the fate of his regime at home," said Mr Burton.

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The Syria-China relationship is similar to relations between Beijing and Tehran, Mr Burton said. "The Syrians need the Chinese more than the Chinese need Syria ... the Assad regime wants to show it's not a pariah," he said.

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