(29 May 2024)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beijing – 29 May 2024
Spokesperson: Mao Ning
Duration: 4:39
STORYLINE:
1. What are China’s comments on the recent Israeli military operations against Rafah?
China is gravely concerned about the Israeli military operations against Rafah and strongly calls on Israel to heed the call of the international community and stop its attacks on Rafah. As the current round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has dragged on, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is extremely grave, and we call on all parties to immediately cease fire and stop the fighting, make every effort to avoid casualties among innocent civilians and prevent an even more serious humanitarian disaster from occurring in the Gaza Strip.
Regarding the situation in the Middle East, China has always been committed to working for peace talks and a de-escalation of the situation and promoting reconciliation and cooperation among countries in the Middle East. We hope that all relevant parties will work together to this end.
2. In the 20 years since the founding of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, relations between China and the Arab world have been getting better and better, while the United States has seen a wakening influence in the region. What has China brought to the Arab world, and what has the U.S. brought to the Arab world?
China and the Arab world have traditionally friendly relations and are strategic partners who trust each other. At the first China-Arab Summit in 2022, the two sides agreed to make every effort to build a China-Arab community of shared future in the new era, and China-Arab relations have entered a new era of comprehensive and deepening development.
Through the joint efforts of the two sides, positive progress has been made in building the China-Arab community of a shared future, and strategic mutual trust between the two sides has been further deepened.
China has established comprehensive strategic partnerships or strategic partnerships with 14 Arab countries and the Arab League. China has pushed Saudi Arabia and Iran to realize historic reconciliation, supported Syria’s return to the Arab League, and supported Arab countries in strengthening their strategic autonomy, solidarity and self-reliance.
Practical cooperation between China and Arab countries is also deepening. China has signed cooperation documents with all 22 Arab countries and the Arab League to promote the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 17 Arab countries have become members of the Asian Investment Bank, and China and Arab countries have implemented more than 200 cooperation projects under the BRI framework. China has been the largest trading partner of Arab countries for many years.
The development of China-Arab relations has not only benefited the people of both sides, but has also contributed to the peaceful development of the Middle East region and injected more stability into a world beset by turmoil. Looking to the future, we are willing to continue to walk the road of cooperation with the Arab countries, create a more three-dimensional cooperation platform, and promote the opening of a new chapter and embark on a new journey in the construction of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum.
3. Estonia said that China had not responded to a request made six months ago to investigate a Chinese vessel that it suspected of damaging undersea telecommunications cables. What is China’s response to this? Is China also investigating this matter?
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