President Xi Jinping and his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad on Friday jointly announced the establishment of a China-Syria strategic partnership.

The two leaders met in Hangzhou on the eve of the opening of the Asian Games.

Xi noted that the establishment of the strategic partnership will be an important milestone in the history of bilateral ties.

"China supports Syria in opposing foreign interference, opposing unilateral bullying, and safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.

"China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Syria through the Belt and Road Initiative... to make positive contributions to regional and world peace and development," Xi added.

Assad, who's seeking financial support to help rebuild his country devastated by civil war, said he "thanked the Chinese government for everything you have done to stand alongside the Syrian people in their cause and their trials", according to a readout from Syrian state news agency SANA. (Agencies)