Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shybani will travel to China on Sunday, marking the first official visit by a senior official from President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government.

Syria’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that al-Shybani will head to the People’s Republic of China for an official visit, during which he will hold talks with several Chinese officials, according to the state-run SANA news agency.

In an interview with the state broadcaster Al-Ikhbariyah in October, al-Shybani had announced his intention to make an official visit to China in early November, following an invitation from Beijing.