BEIJING: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has arrived in China’s eastern city of Hangzhou, state media said on Thursday.

Assad is due to attend the opening ceremony of the Asian Games along with more than a dozen foreign dignitaries, the foreign ministry said earlier.

Syria’s Assad to visit China Thursday: office

In a statement on Tuesday, Assad’s presidential office said he would lead a senior delegation for a series of meetings in several Chinese cities, including a summit with President Xi Jinping.