JAKARTA - Chinese President Xi Jinping promised tens of millions of dollars in aid to address the humanitarian crisis and post-war reconstruction in Gaza, as he opened a ministerial-level meeting titled the 'China-Arab States Cooperation Forum' which was held at the Diaoutai State Guesthouse, Beijing, Thursday.
President Xi stressed that China supports the formation of an independent Palestinian State that has full sovereignty based on the 1967 border and with East Jerusalem as the capital.
"Commitment to the solution of the two countries should not just falter," President Xi said, as reported by Xinhua on May 30.
President Xi further said China was ready to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis and postwar reconstruction in Gaza, as well as aid funds for the United Nations Aid and Work Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
"In addition to emergency humanitarian assistance amounting to RMB100 million yuan (13,792,342 US dollars) previously, China will provide additional assistance of RMB500 million yuan (68,961,710 US dollars) to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support post-conflict reconstruction," Xi explained.
"We will donate USD 3 million to UNRWA to support emergency humanitarian aid to Gaza," President Xi continued.
Diplomats attending a ministerial meeting on Thursday are expected to adopt an agreement to deepen cooperation in various fields, "stating the same voice from China and Arab countries about the Palestinian issue," China's Foreign Ministry said, ahead of the meeting.
There were 22 delegates who attended this meeting. In addition, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, President of the United Arab Emirates Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, King Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Tunisian President Kais Saied were also present.
China is known to have recognized the Palestinian state since 1988. Since the beginning of the war, Beijing has positioned itself in line with the Arab world and South countries in the conflict that has been going on for nearly eight months, criticizing Israel and calling for a ceasefire.
China has also positioned itself as a pioneer in the issue of a wider two-state solution, which will result in international recognition of the Palestinian state, and send envoys to the region to meet Arab counterparts. China has also not explicitly criticized Hamas for the October 7 attack, not considering the militant group a terrorist.
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In late April, two delegates, led by members of the political bureau Hamas Musa Abu Marzouk and Fatah official Azzam Al Ahmad, met in the Chinese capital to discuss internal reconciliation.
If nothing changes, the Palestinian second reconciliation meeting will be held in Beijing, China next month, attended by the Hamas, Fatah and other Palestinian factions.
Meanwhile, Palestinian sources close to Fatah told The National News President Mahmoud Abbas gave the green light to meet Hamas representatives in China, given that it is a must related to the war in Gaza
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