Qatar seeks to work with China to ease regional tensions, state minister says

Name: Chinese President Xi Jinping offers Palestinian leader a ‘lasting solution’ to conflict with Israel
Uploaded: 2023-07-07T07:00:10.000Z
Duration: 1 min 49 s
Description: Chinese President Xi Jinping offers Palestinian leader a ‘lasting solution’ to conflict with Israel

Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi also calls for stronger ties with Beijing, in talks with China’s special envoy on Middle East affairs

Zhai Jun says Beijing is willing to make joint efforts to maintain peace and stability and points to Doha’s ‘unique and important role’

Reading Time:2 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

In June, Chinese leader Xi Jinping told the visiting president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, that Beijing was willing to help promote peace talks with Israel. Photo: Reuters

Cyril Ip

Published: 3:00pm, 7 Jul 2023

Qatar hopes to strengthen ties with China and work together on easing regional tensions, its state minister told Beijing’s special envoy on Middle East affairs Zhai Jun.

During the talks in Doha on Tuesday, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi said Qatar looked forward to boosting communication and coordination with China on hotspot issues in the region, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

Zhai said China attached importance to Qatar’s “unique and important role” in regional and international affairs and was willing to make joint efforts to maintain peace and stability.

Zhai Jun, China’s special envoy on Middle East affairs, meets Qatari State Minister Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi in Doha on Tuesday. Photo: Weibo

A Beijing-brokered deal reached in March between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restart diplomatic relations has raised expectations that China could act as a mediator in other conflicts, including between Israelis and Palestinians.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping in June told the visiting president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, that China was willing to help promote peace talks with Israel, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also expected to visit Beijing in July.

Zhai also met the UN undersecretary general for political and peacebuilding affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, in April and vowed to cooperate with the body to resolve hotspot issues in the region.

01:49

Chinese President Xi Jinping offers Palestinian leader a ‘lasting solution’ to conflict with Israel

This year marks 35 years since China and Qatar established diplomatic ties. Al-Khulaifi said the two nations had profound relations and had maintained a high level of coordination and cooperation in various fields.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x