China begins free-trade talks with Palestine as it expands its influence in the Middle East
- Memorandum of understanding signed during Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan’s visit to Middle East
- Beijing says it supports ‘two-state solution’ to Palestine-Israel dispute
China has agreed to begin free-trade talks with Palestine, Beijing said on Wednesday, in the latest sign of the country trying to increase its political and economic engagement in the Middle East.
Commerce officials from the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding during Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan’s visit to the region, the first by a top level official in almost 20 years, the commerce ministry said in a statement.
Wang, who oversaw the signing ceremony with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, was quoted as saying that Beijing stood with the Palestinian people and continued to support peaceful negotiation and the “two-state solution” to its dispute with Israel.
According to Palestine’s official WAFA news agency, Hamdallah urged Beijing to play a greater role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. He also called on China to back Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ plan to hold an international conference on peace in the Middle East.
Wang said also that China would support Palestine’s development and that it was welcome to join the “Belt and Road Initiative”, President Xi Jinping’s ambitious plan to develop and finance infrastructure projects across Asia, Africa and Europe.
“Capable” Chinese companies were encouraged to invest in Palestine, he said.
Wang’s visit comes at a time of rising tensions in the Middle East, with Iran, Syria, Iraq and Turkey all involved in geopolitical struggles alongside Israel and Palestine.