Palestinian leader Abbas to visit China as Beijing expands regional engagement

Name: Saudi Arabia signs Huawei deal during Chinese leader Xi’s visit despite US security concerns
Uploaded: 2023-06-09T13:27:26.000Z
Duration: 1 min 30 s
Description: Saudi Arabia signs Huawei deal during Chinese leader Xi’s visit despite US security concerns

Mahmoud Abbas’ trip comes after Beijing criticised Israel’s recent expansion of settlements in the West Bank

China has stepped up Mideast involvement as Washington pivots to Indo-Pacific, Ukraine

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After China helped to broker the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is due in Beijing next week. Photo: AP

Liu Zhen

Published: 9:27pm, 9 Jun 2023

Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas will visit China next week as Beijing continues to strengthen its ties with the Middle East.

Abbas’s visit will take place from June 13 to 16, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Friday.

The visit comes as China has ramped up its criticism of Israel in the United Nations Security Council.

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Saudi Arabia signs Huawei deal during Chinese leader Xi’s visit despite US security concerns

Beijing has stepped up mediation efforts in the Middle East as Washington has refocused its attention on the Indo-Pacific region and Ukraine.

In March, China helped to broker the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia after hosting secret negotiations in Beijing.

Last month, Geng Shuang, China’s ambassador to the UN, condemned Israel’s recent expansion of settlements in the West Bank, and a senior official’s visit to a sensitive holy site in Jerusalem that worsened the clashes.

“China will continue to firmly support the Palestinian people and their just cause to restore their legitimate national rights,” Geng said.