Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Friday that Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas will embark on a state visit to China next week “embodying high level of China-Palestine good relations”.
“At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, president of the state of Palestine, Mahmud Abbas will pay a state visit to China from June 13 to 16,” Hua Chunying said in a regular briefing.
This visit comes as China aims to strengthen its ties with the Middle East and enhance its role in the region, challenging the longstanding influence of the United States.
Hua Chunying highlighted the significance of Abbas’s visit, noting that he was the first Arab head of state received by China this year.
The spokesperson emphasized the longstanding friendly relations between China and Palestine, stating that Abbas was an “old and good friend of the Chinese people.” Wang reiterated China’s unwavering support for the just cause of the Palestinian people in regaining their legitimate national rights.
China’s efforts to deepen its engagement in the Middle East have drawn criticism from the United States, which has traditionally been the main powerbroker in the region. However, Beijing has been proactive in mediating regional conflicts, as demonstrated by its successful brokering of the restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia in March.
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia last December as part of an Arab outreach initiative. During the visit, Xi met with Abbas and pledged China’s commitment to working towards an early, just, and sustainable solution to the Palestinian issue. While tensions have arisen between the US and Saudi Arabia recently, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken adopted a conciliatory approach during his visit to Riyadh this week, assuring that Saudi Arabia was not being compelled to choose between Washington and Beijing.
In April, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang expressed China’s willingness to assist in peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine. China supports the resumption of talks as soon as possible, advocating for a “two-state solution” as the basis for negotiations. Qin emphasized that the Palestinian issue is the core of the Middle East matter and has implications for peace, stability, international fairness, and justice.
