China’s President Xi Jinping has pledged on Tuesday, to offer “unremitting” efforts to promote the peace process in the Middle East following a meeting with the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, as the Chinese government has stepped up its diplomatic engagement with the region. Palestinian officials have asked China to show more concerns towards the Middle East peace process.
According to Reuters news reports, Chinese envoys visited the Palestinian territories and Israel, though it has traditionally played few roles in Middle East issue or diplomacy despite its reliance over the region for oil.
While speaking to reporters after having a meet with Palestinian president Abbas in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, Jinping said the International community has paid close attention to the Middle East peace process during the meeting.
After receiving a Palestinian medal of honour from Abbas, Jinping said, “As the Palestinian people’s good friend, partner, and brother, China hopes Palestine and Israel can achieve peace as soon as possible and live and work in peace. China will make unremitting efforts for this.”
Later, deputy Chinese foreign minister Zhang Ming has said Jinping reiterated China’s support for the establishment of the Palestinian state, as well as called for the protection of security of both Israelis and the Palestinian.
The United States President Donald Trump has renewed the efforts to get Israeli-Palestinian under talks again after it has collapsed in 2014.
Diplomats said China was trying to play his role of “honest broker” in the Middle East peace process, as it lacked the historical baggage of the Europeans or the Americans.