UPDATE - Leaders of China, France, EU call for cease-fire in Gaza

UPDATES WITH COMMENTS BY CHINA’S XI ON PALESTINE, UKRAINE

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Chinese President Xi Jinping, French President Emmanuel Macron, and a top EU official on Monday all reiterated their call for a cease-fire in Gaza.

Speaking to reporters after a three-way meeting in Paris, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU Commission, said: “We discussed the situation in the Middle East, which is of great concern to both of us,” meaning both China and the EU.

“No effort can be spared in de-escalating tensions and preventing a wider conflict in the region,” she said.

“Once again, we call for a cease-fire (in Gaza) and for the release of all hostages, and we continue to work to provide all humanitarian support possible while working for a two-state solution,” she added.

The call for a cease-fire in the besieged Palestinian enclave of Gaza comes after the Israeli army on Monday issued urgent evacuation orders to Palestinian residents and displaced individuals in areas of eastern Rafah ahead of a possible ground invasion, urging them to immediately relocate.

Rafah is home to 1.5 million displaced Palestinians who have taken refuge from the war that started after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas incursion that claimed around 1,200 lives.

Since then, the Israeli onslaught has killed nearly 34,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children, besides causing widespread hunger and disease and reducing much of Gaza to rubble.

- Russia, Iran, trade also discussed

Von der Leyen said the trilateral meeting – also including Xi, on his first trip to Europe since 2019 – discussed Russia’s war on Ukraine, Iran, climate change, and economic ties between the EU and China.

“Europe and China have shared interests in peace and security,” she said.

“We count on China to use all its influence on Russia to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. President Xi has played an important role in de-escalating Russia’s irresponsible nuclear threats,” she added.

According to Hua Chunying, spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry, Xi said that Beijing, Paris, and Brussels “wish to see an early cease-fire and return of peace in Europe, and support political settlement of the crisis.”

“We need to jointly oppose spillover and escalation of the fighting, create conditions for peace talks, safeguard international energy and food security, and keep industrial and supply chains stable,” Xi told the trilateral meeting.

China, Xi said: “did not create the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to it.”

“All along, China has been working vigorously to facilitate talks for peace,” he said, adding that Beijing is “ready to stay in communication with relevant parties.”

- Xi reiterates China’s support for Palestine joining UN

On the conflict in Palestine, Xi said the “pressing task is to realize a comprehensive cease-fire as quickly as possible.”

“The key priority is to ensure humanitarian assistance, and the fundamental way out is to implement the two-state solution.

“China supports Palestine’s full membership in the UN,” he said.

He said China is “ready to work with the EU to support a more broad-based, authoritative, and effective international peace conference to be held as quickly as possible to set a timetable and a roadmap for the two-state solution.”

The conference, Xi said, would “promote comprehensive, just, and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question at an early date.”

Xi said that Beijing “always approaches its relations with the EU from a strategic and long-term perspective.”

China “regards Europe as an important dimension in its major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and an important partner on its path toward Chinese modernization,” Xi told the meeting.

He expressed the hope that Chinese ties with both France and the entire EU would “reinforce each other and thrive together.”

“China-EU cooperation is in essence complementary and mutually beneficial,” said Xi, calling on both sides to “properly address economic and trade frictions through dialogue and consultation, and accommodate each other’s legitimate concerns.”