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China says it will stand with Middle East against foreign interference
- ‘We oppose imposing ideology on others, and using human rights to interfere in other nations’ affairs,’ Foreign Minister Wang Yi says after trip to six Middle Eastern countries
- Beijing also offers to host a security forum to help relaunch the collapsed Iran nuclear deal
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China has vowed to work with six Middle East nations to help protect their core interests against foreign interference and allegations of human rights abuses, as all the parties face rising pressure from the United States.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the promise on Tuesday at the end of his week-long trip to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran, UAE, Bahrain and Oman. During his visit he sought to garner support from the mostly Islamic countries for China, which itself is facing sanctions from the US, European Union, Britain and Canada over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
Wang also suggested launching a regional security dialogue, to be hosted by China, and promoted the use of local currencies for trade settlements, an idea Beijing is keen on to reduce its dependence on the US dollar.
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“China and the six nations will continue giving mutual support to each other regarding their core interests. This is the most important outcome of the trip,” he told Chinese state media.
“We oppose imposing ideology on others, and using human rights to interfere in other nations’ affairs and smear them.”
04:07
Alaska summit: China tells US not to underestimate Beijing’s will to safeguard national dignity
Alaska summit: China tells US not to underestimate Beijing’s will to safeguard national dignity
Wang’s trip came after a high-level meeting earlier this month between US and Chinese officials in Alaska, at which the foreign minister and China’s foreign policy chief Yang Jiechi engaged in a public dispute with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on a range of issues including human rights and the South China Sea.
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