Member of the Central Committee of the Fatah movement, the Commissioner General for Arab Relations and China, Abbas Zaki, said today that the upcoming visit of President Mahmoud Abbas, to Chiba is of special and great importance. President Abbas is making a three-day official state visit to China, from June 13-16, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. In an interview with WAFA, Zaki the visit has special and great dimensions, as it culminates those strategic historical relations between Palestine and China, noting it is President Abbas’s fifth visit to Beijing since 2005. The President’s visit to Beijing comes on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and within the framework of the Palestinian and Chinese leaderships’ keenness to promote and consolidate strong bilateral relations in all fields. Zaki explained that the visit is the culmination of China’s growing role in the Middle East after the Riyadh-Chinese Arab Summit for Cooperation and Development in December 2022, and after China’s sponsorship of restoring relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, ad well as the return of Syria to the Arab League. It is also an affirmation of the position of Chinese President Xi, who considers Palestine the first Arab issue. He added, “China’s hosting of President Abbas, who is the first Arab leader to pay an official visit to Beijing this year, is only an indication and evidence that there is no security or stability in the Middle East unless a just solution to the issue of the Palestinian people is reached in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Chinese president’s initiative for achieving the two-state solution and establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.” Zaki stressed that the Chinese President’s reception of President Abbas, in light of the turbulent international situation and the changes taking place in the region and the world, reflects interest in the Palestinian cause and confirms the depth of bilateral relations. Regarding the results of President Abbas’s visit to China, Zaki expected will reiterate its role in finding a just solution to the Palestinian issue, especially given President Xi’s speech at the Riyadh summit when he touched on the injustice that befell the Palestinian people. He indicated that the President’s visit to China will witness confirmation of continued mutual support in international forums, especially with regard to the independence of Palestine and one China, non-interference in internal affairs, and discussion of support for Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations this year. Zaki added that hopes are pinned on opening prospects for development and joint cooperation in various fields, because many issues were settled between Palestine and China after Palestine obtained membership in the Belt and Road Initiative, noting that there is a joint committee to discuss free trade, while work is underway for Palestine to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Zaki also expected that the visit would witness the signing of cooperation protocols in many fields, alin addition to China’s affirmation of moving forward with its assistance to Palestine in the fields of construction, energy, health, education, training and rehabilitation missions for Palestinian youths. “There is an expectation that China will have a greater role at the global level, and the more China progresses, the more fairness we will enjoy in Palestine,” Zaki added.

Source: En – Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA