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Xi Jinping, Abbas announce establishment of 'bilateral strategic partnership' Chinese leader puts forward three-point proposal for settlement of Palestinian issue
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday held talks and announced the establishment of "the bilateral strategic partnership," state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. "Facing unprecedented changes in the world and the new developments in the Middle East, China stands ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Palestine, and work for a comprehensive, just and durable solution of the Palestinian question at an early date," Xi said during their meeting. "The establishment of a strategic partnership will serve as an important milestone in bilateral relations that builds on past achievements and heralds a brighter future," he said, adding that China will seize this opportunity to work with Palestine to advance bilateral friendship and cooperation in all areas. The Chinese leader also put forward a three-point proposal for the settlement of the Palestinian issue, stressing that the cause has remained unresolved for over half a century, causing great suffering to the Palestinian people and that 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. Third, it is important to keep to the right direction of peace talks." 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 to "efforts to help Palestine and Israel live in peace," Xi said. "China stands ready to play a positive role to assist Palestine in achieving internal reconciliation and promote peace talks," he added. For his part, Abbas said, on behalf of the Palestinian people, he would like to sincerely thank China for its long-term strong support and selfless assistance to the Palestinian people in their struggle for restoring their legitimate national rights and just cause. Abbas also said the Palestinian side supports the global security initiative, global development initiative and global civilization initiative put forward by Xi, highly appreciates China's successful mediation of the Saudi Arabia-Iran dialogue, and thanked China for its many initiatives on the early and just settlement of the Palestinian issue. After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents such as economic and technical cooperation agreements. Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated China's support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the 1967 borders, further demonstrating Beijing's growing interest in the Middle East. The Chinese leader used the word "Palestine" in addressing further cooperation with the Palestinian Authority. Abbas arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for a three-day visit, and met with Xi on Wednesday. Abbas and Xi discussed the PA's efforts to be admitted as a full member of the United Nations as well as efforts to engage the International Court of Justice on the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, the PA's official WAFA news agency reported. The Hague-based International Court of Justice said in January that it received a request for an advisory opinion from the UN General Assembly on the situation in the West Bank. Abbas reiterated support for the One-China policy — which stipulates that Taiwan, which has been governed independently of China since 1949, is part of China. The president also pledged to "actively participate" in China's Belt and Road initiative for global infrastructure and thanked China for its "political support," according to WAFA. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang also met his Palestinian counterpart Riyad Al-Maliki on Tuesday, according to Chinese state media outlets. This is the fifth time Abbas has visited China. — Agencies
