China's Xi Reiterates Call for Independent Palestinian State at Summit with Arab Leaders

Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated calls for establishment of an independent Palestinian state and promised more humanitarian aid for people in Gaza as he opened a summit with leers of Arab states Thursday in Beijing. “Since last October, Palestinian-Israeli conflict has escalated drastically, throwing people into tremendous suffering,” Xi said in a speech opening China-Arab States Cooperation Forum.

“War should not continue indefinitely."

He called for an international peace conference for resolving Israel-Hamas war and pledged 500 million yuan ($69 million) in humanitarian aid for Gaza. He also promised to donate $3 million to a United Nations agency that provides assistance and relief to refugees of Israel-Hamas war.

Beijing and Arab states support Palestinians in conflict, where Israel is facing growing international condemnation after its strike in sourn Gaza city of Rafah in which at least 45 people were killed over weekend. overall Palestinian death toll in war exceeds 36,000, according to Gaza Health Ministry.

Beijing has long backed Palestinians and denounced Israel over its settlements in occupied territories. It has not criticised Hamas attack on October 7 — which killed about 1,200 Israelis — while United States and ors have called it an act of terrorism. However, China has growing economic ties with Israel.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who spoke at opening ceremony, praised China for supporting an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

“I call on all active actors of international community to assume ir moral and legal responsibilities to stop outrageous Israeli war," el-Sissi said. "I furr urge international community to take immediate and decisive action to enforce instantaneous and unfettered delivery of humanitarian aid and assistance to Gaza Strip to break Israeli siege and counter any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from ir lands,” el-Sissi said.

Besides dressing war, Chinese leer also called on Arab states to deepen cooperation in areas such as tre, clean energy, space exploration and health care.

summit attended by hes of state from United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Tunisia among ors was set to focus on China’s expanding tre ties and on security concerns related to Israel-Hamas war.

“China’s priorities in region are primarily economic,” said Maria Papageorgiou, a lecturer in politics and international relations at University of Exeter. “It wants to continue momentum established in recent years with Gulf states and expand its investments, particularly in tre, technology (5G networks), and or cyber initiatives.”

ditionally, China wants to present itself as an alternative to West and a more credible partner to region, one that doesn't interfere in nations' domestic affairs nor exert pressure, Papageorgiou said.

Xi and el-Sissi h a bilateral meeting on Wednesday, during which y signed a series of cooperation agreements in areas such as infrastructure, technology and food imports meant to strengn ir ties.

China has invested billions of dollars in Egyptian state projects, including a Suez Canal economic zone and a new ministrative capital east of Cairo. Investments between Egypt and China amounted to around $14 billion in 2023, compared to $16.6 billion in 2022, according to Egypt’s statistics agency.

Also at forum are Tunisia’s President Kais Saied, Emirati President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Bahrain King Ham.

China-Arab States Cooperation Forum was established in 2004 as a formal dialogue mechanism between China and Arab states.

China is Tunisia’s fourth-largest tring partner after Germany, Italy and France. Beijing has financed hospitals and sports complexes in Tunisia, and its companies have been contracted to build strategic infrastructure such as bridges and deep-water Mediterranean ports.

UAE also has expansive, growing economic relations with China and has faced US criticism for an alleged Chinese military facility being built in Abu Dhabi.

Besides China’s expansive tre ties in Middle East, it has increasingly sought to play a diplomatic role in region. In 2023, Beijing helped broker an agreement that saw Saudi Arabia and Iran reestablish diplomatic relations after seven years of tension in a role previously reserved for longtime global heavyweights like US and Russia.