On July 13, 2026, Ambassador Shi Hongwei met with Marwan Halaby, Minister of Higher Education of the Syrian Transitional Government, to exchange views on strengthening cooperation in higher education between the two countries.

H.E. Shi Hongwei stated that Syria possesses abundant higher education resources. Over the 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Syria, the two countries have conducted extensive exchanges and cooperation in the field of education, playing a positive role in promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples and fostering talent cultivation. China is willing to expand cultural exchanges and cooperation in higher education between the two universities, enhance mutual learning and exchange between the Chinese and Syrian people, and promote the deepening and solidification of friendly relations between the two countries.

H.E. Halaby highly praised the level and achievements of China's higher education sector and sincerely thanked China for its long-term strong support for Syria's development of education and strengthening of talent cultivation. Syria hopes to expand personnel exchanges with China in academic, scientific research, and other fields, strengthen academic exchanges and cooperation, further stimulate talent vitality, and benefit the people of both countries.