Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Dec 8, 2022. (YAO DAWEI / XINHUA)
RIYADH – China hopes to seize the opportunity offered by the first China-Arab States Summit to work with Egypt and Palestine to build a China-Arab community with a shared future, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.
The Chinese leader made the remark when he met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
In his meeting with Sisi, Xi said China is ready to deepen Belt and Road cooperation with Egypt, ensure the on-schedule and high-quality completion of the train project in the 10th of Ramadan City and the Central Business District (CBD) in the new administrative capital of Egypt, and make the China-Egypt Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone and other major cooperation projects a success.
China is ready to step up cooperation with Egypt in the United Nations and on other multilateral platforms, said Xi
China is ready to import more quality products from Egypt and expand cooperation in investment and financing, joint vaccine production and aerospace. The two sides need to promote the Luban Workshops and Chinese language learning so that more people will become bridges for China-Egypt friendship, he said.
China is ready to step up cooperation with Egypt in the United Nations and on other multilateral platforms, and jointly advocate true multilateralism, uphold the basic norms of international relations, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and promote peace and stability in the region and beyond, said Xi.
Extending his congratulations on the success of the recently held 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Sisi said China has made great development achievements and gained notable international stature under the strong CPC leadership.
Egypt firmly adheres to the one-China policy, and firmly supports China's position on Hong Kong, Xinjiang and other issues concerning China's core interests, and firmly opposes interference by any force in China's internal affairs, he said.
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Saying that Egypt will continue to work with China to advance Belt and Road cooperation, Sisi welcomed China's active participation in important infrastructure projects in Egypt, saying its doors are wide open to Chinese companies hoping to invest and seek cooperation in Egypt.
He also thanked China for its important and positive role in COP27, saying that Egypt stands ready to enhance multilateral communication and cooperation with China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Dec 8, 2022. (YAO DAWEI / XINHUA)
China with Palestinian cause
While meeting with President Mahmoud Abbas, Xi Jinping said no matter how the international and regional situation changes, China always firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore the legitimate rights and interests of their nation, and always stands with the Palestinian people, Xi said.
The international community should prioritize the Palestinian issue on the international agenda, keep to the direction of the two-state solution and the principle of "land for peace," and facilitate resumption of peace talks on the basis of relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, Xi said.
China will continue to work for an early, just and durable solution to the Palestinian issue, he stressed.
READ MORE: Xi urges just solution for Palestine
Noting that next year marks the 35th anniversary of China-Palestine relations, he emphasized the need for the two sides to make good plans for celebrating the anniversary.
China will continue to work for an early, just and durable solution to the Palestinian issue.
Xi Jinping, President, China
China commends Palestine's active participation in and efforts to promote the collective cooperation between China and Arab states, and will increase communication and cooperation with Palestine on advancing China-Arab relations and delivering the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, Xi said.
For his part, Abbas said the Palestinian people are deeply proud of their friendly relations with the Chinese people, adding that China is Palestine's sincere and trustworthy friend and has always firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people by offering Palestine all-round and unconditional support on the political, economic, moral and other fronts.
All Palestinian people hold sincere affections for the Chinese people, he said, noting that China's positions on the international stage are fair and just, and its initiatives and propositions are positive and constructive.
Pointing out that Palestine stands firmly with China, Abbas reaffirmed Palestine's steadfast commitment to the one-China principle and firm support for China's just position on issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang.
Palestine firmly supports and actively participates in Belt and Road cooperation and stands ready to work with China to continue strengthening cooperation in all areas, Abbas said, adding that Palestine looks forward to working with China to make the first China-Arab States Summit on Friday a success.
Ding Xuexiang, Wang Yi and He Lifeng were present at the meetings.