China's Xi meets Syrian President Assad — State media

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Syrian counterpart Bashar Al Assad on Friday afternoon, state media reported.
President Assad on Thursday began his first official trip to China in almost two decades.

He will attend the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Saturday.

"Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday met with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in Hangzhou, the capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province," state news agency Xinhua reported.

China's foreign ministry on Thursday reported that his visit will take ties to a "new level".
"China and Syria have a traditional and deep friendship," foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a regular briefing.

"We believe that President Bashar Al Assad's visit will further deepen mutual political trust and cooperation in various fields between the two countries," she added.