BEIJING: Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas landed in Beijing, on Tuesday, with China showing readiness to help facilitate Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.
President Abbas would stay over in China until Friday on his 5th official visit to the country, according to AFP.
He would meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the trip. The two leaders are expected to discuss the new developments in the Palestinian arena and regional as well as global issues of mutual interest.
Abbas will also meet with Premier Li Qiang. The long-time Palestinian political leader is an “old and good friend of the Chinese citizens,” foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the previous week.
He added that Beijing has strongly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people to reinforce their legitimate national rights.
China has sought to boost its relations with the Middle East, challenging long-standing United States influence in the region — efforts that have sparked unease in Washington.
President Abbas last meeting with Xi
In December, President Xi visited Saudi Arabia in an Arab outreach bid that where he met with President Abbas and pledged to “work for an early, just, and durable solution to the Palestinian problem.”
During a trip to Riyadh last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saudi Arabia wasn’t being forced to choose between Beijing and Washington, striking a conciliatory tone following a tussle with the long-time ally.
In an interview with Chinese state news agency Xinhua published this week, Palestinian official Abbas Zaki said Palestinian and China were “friends closer than brothers.”
Zaki added that he was very pleased that China is more involved in Middle East issues after the Arab-China States Summit in 2022.
