Faisal al-Miqdad, the Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, announced that the losses in the oil and gas sectors in Syria have reached 115 billion dollars, emphasizing that Western countries are the cause of the economic crisis Syria is experiencing and the suffering of its people.

The Syrian news agency SANA reported that this came in the speech of the Syrian Foreign Minister during the event held by the Chinese embassy last night in Damascus on the occasion of the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Al-Miqdad affirmed that the history of Syrian-Chinese relations is always moving forward, confirming Syria's full support for China and the unity of its land and people, in addition to the initiatives launched to achieve development, peace, and global civilization, especially the Belt and Road Initiative.

Al-Miqdad praised China's stance towards Syria, which has faced many challenges and difficulties due to the Western onslaught against it, pointing to China's active role in global decision-making and policies, and in assisting the peoples of the Arab world, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

The Syrian minister reviewed the Chinese aid to his country, including vaccines, food, transportation buses, as well as clothing, tents, medicines, prefabricated housing units, and other urgent relief materials following the devastating earthquake that struck Syria last February.

For his part, the Chinese ambassador in Damascus, Shi Hongwei, renewed his country's support for Syria in maintaining its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, in addition to the policies and measures taken by the Syrian government to ensure the security, stability, and development of the country, stressing his country's rejection of any foreign forces intervening in Syria's internal affairs and affecting its security and stability, and rejecting the illegal military presence in it, calling for an end to the plundering of its natural resources and the immediate lifting of all unilateral and illegal sanctions against its people.

He pointed out his country’s keenness to work with Syria hand in hand to maintain regional stability and the interests of developing countries, and to defend international equality and justice through practical steps.