Palestinians welcome Chinese peace initiative

China, which has a limited role in Middle East peace-making and security, has proposed a five-point initiative to achieve security and stability in the Middle East, including a meeting between Palestinian and Israeli officials in Beijing.

Ahmad Abu Amer
Ahmad Abu Amer
Mar 31, 2021
Chinese Ambassador Guo Wei (L) and Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila bump elbows during the unloading of a shipment of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government in the city of Ramallah in the West Bank, on March 29, 2021.
Chinese Ambassador Guo Wei (L) and Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila bump elbows during the unloading of a shipment of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines donated by the Chinese government in the city of Ramallah in the West Bank, on March 29, 2021. — ABBAS MOMANI/AFP via Getty Images

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — China has been making major political moves in the Middle East region, including an attempt to stir up the Israeli-Palestinian peace file.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced on March 24 his country’s plan to invite Palestinians and Israelis for talks in Beijing.

Yi’s statements to Al-Arabiya channel came on the sidelines of his recent tour to the Middle East region that kicked off in Saudi Arabia on March 24 and will extend to six other countries including the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Bahrain, Oman, Turkey and Qatar.

Through this diplomatic trip, which comes two months after Joe Biden was sworn in as president of the United States, China seems to have gone a step ahead of the new US administration. 

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