(30 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Beijing China – 30 May 2024
1. Wide of Tunisian President Kais Saied addressing the audience
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Kais Saied, Tunisian President:
"It is not possible for us in this or in other places without repeating our steady and firm stance regarding the rights of the Palestinian people to restore their stolen rights in the entire land of Palestine, and the establishment of their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital. The humanitarian community today has started to rise up everywhere against this aggression and these heinous crimes committed every day and every hour against people who were plundered not only of their land, but also of their right to live."
3. UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan heading to stage
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President:
"This meeting comes in light of what is happening in the region, in the Middle East from escalated tensions as a result of the continuation of the war in the Gaza Strip and the difficult humanitarian situation it is causing for its residents. This matter increases the importance of joint Arab-Chinese action, in addition to international efforts for an immediate ceasefire, providing protection to the population and ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Moreover, it is important
to find a vision for a just and comprehensive peace in the region. It’s tough for everyone, and (we must) find a two-state solution."
5. Mid of audience
STORYLINE:
Arab leaders and Chinese President Xi Jinping convened on Thursday during a summit in Beijing amid an escalation in the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza.
Beijing and the Arab states back the Palestinians in the conflict, where Israel is facing growing international condemnation after its strike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah in which at least 45 people were killed over the weekend.
The overall Palestinian death toll from the Israeli military campaign in Gaza exceeded 36,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Beijing has long backed Palestinians and denounced Israel over its settlements in the occupied territories.
It has not criticized the initial Hamas attack on Oct. 7 — which killed about 1,200 people — while the United States and others have called it an act of terrorism. However, China has growing economic ties with Israel.
Tunisian President Kais Saied reiterated during his speech the stance of most of the Arab states for the Palestinians’ right to live in "their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital."
UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan called again for an immediate ceasefire in the besieged territory, and for the flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Bin Zayed also called for a comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.
The summit was set to focus on China’s expanding trade ties and on security concerns related to the Israel-Hamas war.
Besides China’s expansive trade ties in the Middle East, it has increasingly sought to play a diplomatic role in the region.
In 2023, Beijing helped broker an agreement that saw Saudi Arabia and Iran reestablish ties after seven years of tension in a role previously reserved for longtime global heavyweights like the U.S. and Russia.
The China-Arab States Cooperation Forum was established in 2004 as a formal dialogue mechanism between China and Arab states.
AP video shot by Liu Zheng
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