?.POLITICAL RELATIONS

China established diplomatic relations with Syria on August 1 ,1956. Since then, the friendly relations of cooperation between the two countries has been developing very smoothly. In recent years, some important officials from the Chinese side have visited Syria, among whom were Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen, Vice Chairman of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Gu Mu, Member of the Standing Committee of the Central Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China(CPC) Qiao Shi, Premier LI PENG, Vice Chairman of CPPCC Hu Shen, Vice Chairman of NPC Wang Bingqian, Member of the Central Political Bureau of CPC and Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Political Bureau of CPC Wei Jianxing, Vice Chairman of CPPCC Qian Weichang, Vice Premier Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Li Peng, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, State Councilor and Defence Minister Chi Haotian, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Commitee of the CPC Li Tieying,  State Councillor Simayi Aimat and Vice Chairman of CPPCC Yang Rudai.

Visitors from the Syrian side were Vice President KHADDAM, Speaker QADDOURAH, Vice President and Vice Chairman of the National Progressive Front MASHARKA, Vice Secretary-General of the Baath Arab Socialist Party AL-AHMAR and Premier AL-ZOUABI. In February 2002, Syrian Vice Foreign Minister Haddad visited China.


?.TRADE AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS

Trade agreements that have been signed were Agreement On Trade Payment, Long-term Trade Agreement and agreement of Economic, Trade and Technological Cooperation. Since 1983, the two sides have changed the way of trade payment to cash payment.

The total volume of import and export between China and Syria in 2001 was US$223,190,000, of which the Chinese export was US$223,180,000, and import US$10,000.

The two sides have also carried out mutually beneficial economic and technological cooperation.  China has helped Syria in building some projects such as textile mill and stadium. China currently has contracted to build a hydraulic power station and a rubber tyre factory.