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Economic woes persist in Syria as new government faces mounting challenges

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      China

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      Economic woes persist in Syria as new government faces mounting challenges

      2025-03-15 21:57 Last Updated At:22:57

      Syrians remain burdened by economic instability and security challenges following the ousting of Assad's government and the establishment of a new administration in December last year.

      Saturday marks 14 years since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war. Even with a new government established in December, Syrians continue to grapple with deep economic challenges, including unemployment and soaring inflation.

      Amid a worsening economic crisis and soaring unemployment, the new government has struggled to revive the economy, leaving vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly, in extreme poverty.

      To mitigate the crisis, the government has introduced bank withdrawal limits, but the policy has only added to residents' woes. In a country with limited alternative payment options, people are forced to spend hours in line just to secure enough cash for their daily needs.

      "I have not been paid for four months. Recently the government issued a decision to give us our payments, so I came here today. It is too difficult for a retiree to live four months without any income," said Adham Malek, a Syrian Retiree.

      Many Syrians have resorted to purchasing large quantities of bread during Ramadan and reselling it on roadsides to earn a modest daily income, as job opportunities remain scarce.

      "The economic situation in Syria is bad. Items are abundant, but there is no purchasing power and no money, so how can I buy things? If I want to shop then I need like one million. I do not have that amount of money, and that is why most people are turning into street vendors to sell whatever," said Zeina Hawa, a local resident.

      Entering the first Ramadan since the fall of the Assad government, residents are facing strict measures from the new administration, which has ordered the closure of all restaurants and cafes during daylight hours. Violators risk up to three months in custody, leaving the catering industry in a state of stagnation.

      After inheriting an economy ravaged by years of conflict and sanctions, the new government is struggling to identify a short-term strategy to revive the country's financial stability.

      "Unfortunately, Syria now has no economic approach. It is not a socialist economy, or a social market economy, nor a capitalist economic system. So, the market approach of the Syrian economy is rather vague," said economist Ammar Yousef.

      As Syrians remember the 14th anniversary of the war, nonfunctional economic management and unrest in many spots across the country have cast doubt on the country's future.

      Economic woes persist in Syria as new government faces mounting challenges

      Economic woes persist in Syria as new government faces mounting challenges

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      Construction of new-energy bases in western region picks up pace

      2025-03-16 22:19 Last Updated At:22:37

      China's western regions are accelerating the construction of new energy bases in barren, rocky areas and deserts to support the transition to low-carbon energy and boost green development.

      The rapid development of large-scale wind and photovoltaic power facilities in these challenging environments is a critical strategic move for China as it seeks to promote a clean and low-carbon transformation of its energy sector.

      Sandy areas, rocky areas, and deserts have fragile ecosystems, but they are rich in wind and solar energy resources, providing a natural advantage for the development of clean energy. The construction of new-energy bases can also fully leverage the land, solar, and wind resource advantages of the western region and transform them into economic benefits.

      On the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, construction is in full swing for a 10-million-kilowatt hybrid power base that integrates wind, solar, coal, and storage facilities.

      The power base is expected to provide 5 million kilowatts of reliable electricity to Sichuan and Chongqing during the peak hours once in operation.

      "We have so far finished flattening 80 hectares of land at the designated sites. This year, we will further explore technological innovation in six aspects, including the integrated control of new energy bases and AI-aided power generation prediction," said Wang Liang, Ruoqiang site manager, Xinjiang Branch of China Three Gorges Corporation.

      As a key focus of China's green energy transition during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, the construction of new-energy bases, particularly in sandy areas, rocky areas and deserts, made significant progress. The first batch of projects was accelerated to be completed by the end of 2024, while the second and third batches were accelerating construction.

      As of the end of 2024, the first batch of bases had an installed capacity of 91.99 million kilowatts, accounting for approximately 95 percent of the total planned capacity for the first batch projects, with 90.79 million kilowatts already in operation.

      "The planning and construction of new energy bases in the sandy areas, rocky areas and deserts has created a new path of coordinated development combining energy, ecology and economy. It is expected that by 2030, China's planned new energy installation capacity in these areas will exceed 300 million kilowatts," said Liu Qiang, the Director of the Electric Power Development Research Institute.

      Construction of new-energy bases in western region picks up pace

      Construction of new-energy bases in western region picks up pace

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