China Says It Will Facilitate Palestine-Israel Peace Talks | World News

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his Palestinian and Israeli counterparts that China was ready to facilitate peace talks between them, the latest move by Beijing to emerge as a regional mediator after helping Iran and Saudi Arabia rebuild relations years later.

Qin Shihuang spoke on the phone with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki and Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen respectively, talking about “steps to resume peace talks”, telling the former that China is “willing to play an active role in this regard”. Respect”, and convey to the latter that “China is willing to provide convenience for this”.

“China encourages Israel and Palestine to show political courage and take measures to resume peace talks, and China is willing to facilitate this,” Qin, who also serves as state councilor, said on Monday, according to the official news agency Xinhua.

“All parties should maintain calm and restraint, and stop excessive and provocative words and deeds,” Qin told Cohen, adding “…the fundamental way out is to resume peace talks and implement the ‘two-state solution’.”

Qin told Maliki that China “supports the strategic autonomy of countries in the Middle East,” and said China was willing to continue to contribute to peace and stability in the Middle East.

Israeli-Palestinian peace talks have stalled since 2014, and renewed violence and death in the region this month have heightened tensions, even as Tel Aviv grapples with massive domestic protests.

Qin Shihuang reiterated to Maliki that China is highly concerned about the recent intensification of the conflict between Palestine and Israel and the escalation of tension.

He said China had urged “the United Nations Security Council to hold consultations and communicate closely with the international community in an effort to cool down the situation”.

“China has no self-interest on the Israel-Palestine issue, and only hopes that Israel and Palestine will coexist peacefully and maintain regional peace and stability,” Qin told Cohen.

Beijing has positioned itself as an international peace broker after bringing together rivals Tehran and Riyadh for talks.

The two foreign ministers met in Beijing earlier this month, the first official meeting between senior diplomats from the two countries. Iran is said to have reopened its embassy in Saudi Arabia earlier this month for the first time in seven years.

Qin also singled this out in his call with Cohen, saying that Saudi Arabia and Iran had recently “…restored diplomatic relations through dialogue, setting a good example of overcoming differences through dialogue.”

China’s 12-point peace proposal titled “China’s Position on a Political Solution to the Ukraine Crisis” in February has so far failed to stop Russia’s incursions into the eastern European country.

Indeed, despite Beijing’s claims to remain neutral in the conflict, Beijing’s close relationship with Moscow means it is not seen — or perceived to be — as a neutral player in brokering a peace deal.

There is also broader concern in the West that China may soon supply its ally Russia with lethal weapons based on its “infinite friendship”.