China stresses that only by achieving just and comprehensive peace can long-term stability in the Middle East be achieved

From May 5 to 10, China hosted both Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. That China's new leaders received the two leaders shortly after taking office suggests Middle East affairs, especially the Palestinian question, have become a focus of China's diplomacy.

As a Chinese diplomat entrusted with the Middle East peace mission, I have realized that it is the common wish and demand of leaders of the three countries that have enabled the rare event. I visited Palestine and Israel in April and played my role of communication and coordination between the countries.

Abbas arrived as the first head of state from the Middle East to visit China after Xi Jinping became the Chinese president in March, and he gained Beijing's support for the core concerns of Palestinians. Netanyahu, on his second visit as prime minister, emphasized developing economic relations and expected Beijing to play a more active role in the Middle East peace process.

The intractable Middle East issue, which has already lasted more than half a century, has long adversely affected peace, stability and development in the region. Yet due to the political upheavals in a number of Arab countries in recent years, the peace process is in danger of being marginalized. However, the Palestinian question is a central concern of the Arab and Islamic world and has an overall significance in the Middle East. Fortunately, this year the international community has made renewed efforts to promote the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

By inviting both leaders to visit China, Beijing has taken the initiative and added a new dynamic to the peace process. Peace, stability and development are the common aspirations of countries in the war-torn region and resolving disputes through political channels is in line with the fundamental interests of all parties. The efforts of China's new leaders show Beijing's confidence and vision in promoting peace.

The four-point proposal presented by Xi reaffirms China's support for an independent Palestine based on the 1967 borders. It encourages the two sides to create the necessary conditions for the resumption of peace talks and build on the existing achievements, which include the principle of land for peace. It recommends the international community take an objective and fair position and make vigorous efforts to encourage peace talks.

China has always supported the just cause of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state and has made unremitting efforts to promote a peaceful and just solution to the Palestinian question. Xi's proposal not only summarizes what has been China's consistent stance, it also introduces new elements that take into account the development of the situation in the Middle East.

The Chinese side stressed that the peoples of Israel and other Middle East countries should have equal rights to subsistence and development, and only by achieving a just and comprehensive peace can long-term stability in the region be realized.

China has used every opportunity to help build greater trust, so that peace talks can begin as soon as possible and make substantive progress. It always encourages the two sides to learn from history, base themselves on reality and take a negotiated peace as a strategic choice. Revenging wrong with wrong will only deepen hatred, while turning swords into ploughshares can lead to coexistence in peace.

The realization of peaceful coexistence between Israel and all Arab countries is the final goal and common expectation of the international community.

Promoting bilateral cooperation was also an important feature of the dual visits. China and Palestine signed agreements to strengthen cultural and educational cooperation, as well as economic and trade ties, and they will explore ways to encourage capable Chinese enterprises to invest in the West Bank. The Palestinian side is willing to provide a variety of facilities to achieve win-win results. These have further enriched China-Palestine friendly and cooperative relations.

China's relationship with Israel has grown considerably since the establishment of diplomatic relations, thanks to the efforts of both countries. China is Israel's third-largest trading partner. While upholding equality and mutual trust, the two sides held in-depth discussions on how to tap the potential of their complementary strengths and deepen pragmatic cooperation. They will increase cooperation in science and technology, water conservation, clean energy and other fields and plan to set up a special coordinating body.

Both Abbas and Netanyahu have expressed satisfaction with the results of their China visits and said they appreciate and welcome China playing a greater role in promoting the Middle East peace process. Both leaders also expressed the hope that peace talks will resume as soon as possible.

China is engaging in communication and coordination with all parties to try and inject the Middle East peace process with positive energy.

The author is China's Special Envoy to the Middle East.

(China Daily 05/17/2013 page8)