Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in China Thursday for his first official visit to the country in nearly two decades.

During his visit, he is scheduled to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

The Syrian Presidency had previously announced that the visit comes in response to an official invitation from President Xi Jinping.

Assad and the First Lady are set to engage in various meetings and events in the cities of Hangzhou and Beijing.

They are accompanied by a political and economic delegation.