On July 18, 2017, President Xi Jinping held talks at the Great Hall of the People with President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine, who was in China for a state visit.

 

Xi Jinping pointed out that the friendship between China and Palestine has a long history. China is one of the first countries to support the just cause of the Palestinian people, and recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine. The Chinese and Palestinian people are truly good friends, good partners and good brothers with mutual understanding, mutual trust and mutual support. In recent years, both countries have conducted close high-level exchanges, further consolidated political mutual trust, and achieved steady development from cooperation in various fields.

 

Xi Jinping stressed that China is willing to make joint efforts with Palestine to continuously and firmly support each other on politics, enhance coordination and cooperation and maintain high-level exchanges, so as to constantly advance bilateral cooperation in various fields. China appreciates Palestine for its constant adherence to the one-China policy, and will continue supporting the Palestinian people in the just cause of restoring the legitimate national rights. China is ready to, together with Palestine, co-build the "Belt and Road", and support qualified and capable enterprises of China in developing investment and cooperation in Palestine, in a bid to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. China stands ready to cooperate with Palestine in industrial park construction, talent raining and solar power station project, so as to help Palestine improve its self-development capacity. Both sides should continuously enhance exchanges and cooperation in various fields including culture, education and scientific research, and at inter-party, local, non-governmental, and youth levels, so as to continue to enhance the friendship between the two peoples.

 

Xi Jinping put forward four propositions on promoting the settlement of the Palestinian issue:

 

First, firmly advance the political settlement on the basis of the two-state solution. China firmly supports the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine, enjoying full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, and will as always play a constructive role in resolving the Palestinian issue.

 

Second, uphold a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept. China calls for earnest implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2334 and an immediate stop of all settlement activities in the occupied territories. China hopes that immediate measures will be taken to prevent violence against civilians. It is imperative to restart negotiations as soon as possible, speed up the political settlement of the Palestinian issue and achieve common and everlasting security fundamentally.

 

Third, further coordinate efforts of the international community and strengthen the concerted efforts for peace. The international community should further coordinate with one another to put forward measures for peace with common participation at an early date. China is willing to participate in and support all efforts making for the political settlement of the Palestinian issue, and will hold a seminar for the peace lovers in Palestine and Israel within this year to contribute ideas and solutions to the Palestinian issue.

 

Fourth, comprehensively implement measures and promote peace with development. While promoting political negotiation, it is also important to highly value the issue of development to advance Palestine-Israel cooperation. China regards both Palestine and Israel as important partners along the "Belt and Road", and stands ready to carry out mutually beneficial cooperation in line with the idea of promoting peace with development to continue supporting Palestine in speeding up its development. China proposes to launch China-Palestine-Israel trilateral dialogue mechanism, and coordinate and push forward major projects aiding Palestine.

 

Mahmoud Abbas expressed that the traditional friendship between Palestine and China is like real gold, the color of which will never fade. Sincerely thanking the great China for always supporting its national just cause, Palestine will continue adhering to the one-China policy and supporting China to achieve national unity. Palestine congratulates and admires China's enormous achievements from economic and social development, and is ready to cement exchanges with China at high level and in various fields, actively participate in the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" and expand bilateral cooperation in areas such as economy, science, technology, infrastructure, industrial parks and tourism. Speaking highly of and supporting China's constructive proposals to press for a political resolution of the Palestinian issue, Palestine hopes to see China play a bigger role in the Middle East peace process.

 

After their talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in such areas as diplomacy, economy, personnel training and culture. Mahmoud Abbas awarded Xi Jinping the highest Palestinian medal to express profound gratitude for China's support on Palestine's pursuit of the just cause and to pay high tribute to Xi Jinping. Xi Jinping expressed gratitude to such gesture, and said that it embodies the high importance Palestine attached to China-Palestine relations, and is an appreciation and affirmation to China's long-term adherence to a just stance on the Palestinian issue. China will unswervingly push forward the constant development of bilateral relations and the Middle East peace process.

 

Before their talks, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Mahmoud Abbas at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People. Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhang Baowen, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Wang Zhengwei and others were present.