Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attends a press conference after talks with his Dutch counterpart Wopke Hoekstra in Beijing, China, May 23, 2023. (Credit: REUTERS/Thomas Peter/Pool)
China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang told his Palestinian counterpart that China attaches great importance to the Palestinian issue and will continue to support peace talks during a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday, according to a statement from his ministry.
China has always firmly supported the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights, Qin also reportedly told Palestine's Riyad al-Maliki, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is in Beijing on a three-day state visit in which he hopes to demonstrate that there is Chinese support for a Palestinian state, after failing to meet with American officials while in New York for the United Nations General Assembly last month.
During what is Abbas' fifth visit to China, he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the Palestinian cause as well as exchange views on regional and international issues of common concern, according to official Palestinian media.
China has historically had a good relationship with the Palestinians and since Abbas' last visit in 2017 has consistently talked up its capabilities in mediation, although it had little to show in this regard until it brokered a surprise deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore diplomatic ties in March.