UPDATE 2 - China’s president says Gaza war should not continue indefinitely

UPDATES WITH COMMENTS BY ARAB LEADERS

ISTANBUL (AA) - Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that the war in Gaza “should not continue indefinitely” as he reiterated China’s support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

“The war should not continue indefinitely. Justice should not be absent forever. Commitment to the two-state solution should not be wavered at will,” Xi told the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing.

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Tunisian President Kais Saied and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan are attending the forum.

Xi said that China “firmly supports the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

Extending support to Palestine becoming a full UN member state, Xi reiterated China’s call for a “more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference.”

Xi also said that China “will continue to support efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and post-war reconstruction.”

Beijing supports the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in providing emergency humanitarian aid to Gaza, he added.

Xi pledged 500 million yuan more ($69 million) in humanitarian aid for Gaza.

He added Beijing will donate $3 million to UNRWA.

- Egypt's Sisi lauds China's role on Palestine issue

President El-Sisi lauded China’s "approach and policies" on the Palestinian issue including Beijing’s "persistent support for an immediate cease-fire" in Gaza.

"I call on all active actors of the international community to assume their moral and legal responsibilities to stop the outrageous Israeli war," El-Sisi told the forum, urging "instantaneous and unfettered" delivery of humanitarian aid and assistance to Gazans.

- Arab-China cooperation important for protection of Gazans, says UAE ruler

The UAE ruler, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, said the forum "aims to further develop the historical ties between our regions."

This forum comes at a time "when the world needs to unite and show solidarity to face common challenges including escalating tensions" due to the ongoing war in Gaza, he said.

Noting that the war in Gaza was "leading to dire humanitarian conditions for its residents," he underscored the importance of Arab-Chinese cooperation to "achieve an immediate cease-fire, and provide protection for Gaza's residents."

He highlighted the urgent need to "pursue a just and comprehensive peace in the region based on the two-state solution," according to UAE's state news agency.

Bahrain’s King Al Khalifa and Tunisian President Saied also spoke on the occasion.

- Building relations with Arab nations ‘for world peace and stability’

On relations with the Arab states, Xi said Beijing was “willing to stand in solidarity” with the group while building China-Arab relations “into a model for maintaining world peace and stability.”

“In a turbulent and unstable world, mutual respect is the way to harmonious coexistence, and fairness and justice are the foundation for lasting security,” he said.

“China is willing to work with the Arab states to explore ways to resolve hotspot issues that are conducive to upholding fairness and justice and to achieving long-term peace and stability,” said Xi.

He added that the framework for investment and finance cooperation with Arab countries will be expanded, including in the banking sector.

With an annual turnover of around $400 billion, China is currently the largest trade partner of the Arab region.

Xi also proposed to work with the Arab side to establish the China-Arab Center of Global Civilization Initiative.

Beijing will invite 200 leaders of Arab political parties to visit China each year, striving to achieve the goal of 10 million two-way visits of tourists in the next five years, he said.

Xi also pledged to expedite cooperation projects that are financed by special loans in support of industrialization in the Middle East.

“China supports closer cooperation between financial institutions from the two sides, welcomes Arab states to issue panda bonds in China, and welcomes Arab banks to join the Cross-border Interbank Payment System. China is also ready to deepen exchanges and cooperation on central bank digital currency with the Arab side,” he said.

The 10th ministerial meeting opened in Beijing on Thursday as China and the Arab states are marking the 20th anniversary of the forum, which was founded in 2004.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Mauritanian counterpart Mohamed Salem Ould Merzouk co-chair the forum.

Foreign ministers or representatives of the Arab states and the secretary-general of the League of Arab States are also attending the forum.

The forum serves as a formal dialogue initiative between China and the Arab League to discuss the primary multilateral coordination mechanism between the world's second-largest economy and the Arab states.