War-torn Syria has officially joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

The move revives an old role of Syria in the ancient Silk Road – coming at a time of deep economic turmoil and a country badly in need of reconstruction. Attacks on infrastructure, including markets, hospitals and schools, have led to estimates of more than 350,000 civilians killed and half of the pre-war population displaced.

To discuss the potential impact of stronger economic ties between China and Syria: 

• Victor Gao is a current affairs commentator and chair professor at Soochow University.
• Joshua Landis is a chair professor and the director of the University of Oklahoma’s Center for Middle East Studies. 
• Adnan Nasser is an independent Middle East analyst.
• Bassam Abu Abdallah is a former Syrian government official. He currently heads the Baath Party Central School of Syria.

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Defying US Caesar Act, China admits Syria into BRI https://t.co/ckHYLc0o4i Cradle

— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) January 17, 2022

🇸🇾🇨🇳 Syria joins BRI to rebuild amid wars, Western sanctions, pandemic via cooperation with China – Global Times https://t.co/kSsiQAt24k

— China – Arab Forum (CAF) – المنتدى العربي الصيني (@china_arabia) January 13, 2022