Xi pledges support for Palestine
Print Edition
CHINA supports a political settlement of the Palestinian issue on the basis of the two-state solution, President Xi Jinping said yesterday.
It supports Palestine in building an independent, full-sovereignty state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, Xi said in talks with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Xi said UN Security Council Resolution 2334 should be implemented, and all settlement building on the occupied territories of Palestine be immediately stopped.
The resolution, adopted on December 23, 2016, condemned Israel’s settlements on occupied Palestinian territory as illegal, and urged it to halt building.
Xi said measures should be taken to prevent violence against civilians and peace talks should be resumed as soon as possible to accelerate resolution of the Palestine issue.
China is one of the first countries to support the just cause of the Palestinian people and to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian state, Xi said, calling both countries “good friends, partners and brothers.”
In 1947, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 181, which recognized the need to establish a Jewish state and an Arab state in the former British Mandate territory of Palestine.
The 1967 Middle East war resulted in Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights. The last round of peace talks between Israel and Palestine halted in 2014, mainly due to the continuing expansion of Jewish settlements on the occupied territories of Palestine.
China will host a symposium on peace between Palestine and Israel later this year to contribute wisdom to resolving the Palestinian issue, Xi said.
He said China is willing to participate in and support all efforts conducive to a political settlement.
“China proposes to launch a tripartite dialogue mechanism with Palestine and Israel to advance major projects to assist the Palestinian side,” Xi said.
He reiterated that China will, “as always,” support the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights.
Xi said China appreciates Palestine’s adherence to the one-China policy. He said China will work with Palestine to give political support to each other, maintain high-level exchanges and promote cooperation in various areas.
China regards both Palestine and Israel as important partners under the Belt and Road initiative, he said. “China will support capable and qualified companies in carrying out investment cooperation in Palestine for mutual benefits and win-win results.”
The Belt and Road initiative, proposed by Xi in 2013, refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. It aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa.
Xi said China will cooperate with Palestine in industrial park development, personnel training and solar power plant construction to help the country improve its self-development capacity.
He called on both sides to strengthen exchanges in culture, education, science and technology, among others.
Thanking China for its support, Abbas said Palestine will continue to support the one-China policy and China’s reunification. Palestine admires China’s achievements in economic and social development and is willing to have closer high-level exchanges with China and participate in the Belt and Road initiative, Abbas said.
Palestine spoke highly of China’s constructive proposals on promoting a political solution to the Palestine issue and hopes to see China play a greater role in Middle East peace process, Abbas said.
After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in a number of fields.
Abbas awarded Palestine’s highest medal to Xi for its support and to pay homage to Xi himself.
Thanking Abbas, Xi said the medal represents the importance Palestine gives to bilateral ties with China and the acknowledgement of China’s fair stance on the Palestine issue.
Abbas arrived on Monday for a four-day state visit to China at Xi’s invitation.
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