Chinese, Palestinian presidents hold talks

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 14, 2023. Xi held talks with Abbas in Beijing on Wednesday. [Xinhua/Huang Jingwen]

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing on Wednesday.

The two leaders announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Palestine.

Xi said China and Palestine are good friends and good partners who trust and support each other. He said China was one of the first countries to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine.

China has all along firmly supported the Palestinian people's just cause of restoring their legitimate national rights and worked for a comprehensive, just and durable solution of the Palestinian question at an early date, Xi said.

China supports Palestine in becoming a full member state of the United Nations, will continue to speak up for Palestine and champion justice on multilateral occasions, and will provide assistance as best as it can to help ease humanitarian difficulties and reconstruction in Palestine, Xi said.

He called on both sides to take the establishment of strategic partnership as an opportunity to continue supporting each other on issues of core concern, advance cooperation in various areas, deepen partnership in jointly building the Belt and Road, speed up negotiations on the China-Palestine free trade agreement, share experiences on national governance and further the traditional friendship.

Xi put forward a three-point proposal for the settlement of the Palestinian question. Xi stressed that the Palestinian question has remained unresolved for over half a century, causing great sufferings to the Palestinian people; justice must be done to Palestine as soon as possible.

First, the fundamental solution lies in the establishment of an independent state of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders and with east Jerusalem as its capital, he said.

Second, Palestine's economic and livelihood needs should be met, and the international community needs to step up development assistance and humanitarian aid to Palestine, he said.

Third, it is important to keep to the right direction of peace talks. The historical status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem should be respected, and excessive and provocative words and actions should be avoided. A large-scale, more authoritative and more influential international peace conference should be convened so as to create conditions for the resumption of peace talks and contribute tangible efforts to help Palestine and Israel live in peace, he said.

"China stands ready to play a positive role to assist Palestine in achieving internal reconciliation and promote peace talks," Xi said.

Xi said China is willing to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Palestine and other developing countries, enhance coordination in international and regional affairs, advance China's cooperation with Arab states, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice.

On behalf of the Palestinian people, Abbas thanked China for its long-term strong support and selfless assistance for the Palestinian people's just cause of restoring their legitimate national rights, calling China a trustworthy friend and partner.

Abbas said Palestine supports China's position on issues concerning its core interests and follows the one-China principle, adding that Palestine will work with China to promote the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthen bilateral cooperation and build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Palestine backs the Global Security Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi, and speaks highly of the China-mediated talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Abbas said.

He thanked China for putting forward a number of initiatives on an early and just settlement of the Palestinian question. The Palestinian side believes in China's wisdom and just position and expects China to play a greater role in promoting intra-Palestinian reconciliation and realizing peace in the Middle East.

After their talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of documents on bilateral economic and technological cooperation.

Prior to the talks, Xi held a welcoming ceremony for Abbas in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 14, 2023. [Xinhua/Yin Bogu]

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 14, 2023. Xi held talks with Abbas in Beijing on Wednesday. [Xinhua/Zhang Ling]

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 14, 2023. Xi held talks with Abbas in Beijing on Wednesday. [Xinhua/Huang Jingwen]

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, June 14, 2023. Xi held talks with Abbas in Beijing on Wednesday. [Xinhua/Yin Bogu]