Editor's Note: Western sanctions have been leveled against Syria since a civil war broke out there in 2011. It has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions. How can the country restore its former glory and return to pre-war growth and prosperity? How can China help revive and boost Syria's economy? In this edition of Leaders Talk, CMG's Zou Yun sat down with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to discuss the country's reconstruction and its return to the international field. On his visit to China, al-Assad attended the opening ceremony of the Hangzhou Asian Games. He also held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a bid to end more than a decade of diplomatic isolation under Western sanctions. Both presidents jointly announced the establishment of a China-Syria strategic partnership. Al-Assad pins hopes on Xi's global initiatives and on the BRI, saying that China calls for a new type of international relations and rejects hegemony. He also commends the Chinese people for their patriotism and cultural confidence.