Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his call for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and promised additional humanitarian aid for Gaza at the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum on Thursday in Beijing.
“Since last October, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has escalated drastically, throwing people into tremendous suffering,” Xi stated during his speech. “War should not continue indefinitely.”
Xi emphasized the need for an international peace conference to address the Israel-Hamas conflict and pledged $69 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza. He also committed to donating $3 million to a United Nations agency that provides assistance to refugees of the Israel-Hamas war.
China and Arab states have historically supported Palestinians, especially amid rising international condemnation of Israel following a strike in Rafah, Gaza, that killed at least 45 people over the weekend. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the Palestinian death toll in the ongoing conflict has exceeded 36,000.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, speaking at the summit’s opening ceremony, lauded China’s support for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the establishment of a Palestinian state. He urged the international community to ensure the prompt delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and to counter any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians.
Beyond the conflict, Xi urged Arab states to deepen cooperation in trade, clean energy, space exploration, and healthcare. The summit, attended by leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Tunisia, and other states, focused on expanding China’s trade ties and addressing security concerns related to the Israel-Hamas war.
“China’s priorities in the region are primarily economic,” stated Maria Papageorgiou, a lecturer in politics and international relations at the University of Exeter. “It wants to continue the momentum established in recent years with Gulf states and expand its investments, particularly in trade, technology, and cyber initiatives.”
Additionally, Papageorgiou noted that China seeks to position itself as an alternative to the West, presenting itself as a non-interfering, credible partner.
On Wednesday, Xi and el-Sissi signed a series of bilateral cooperation agreements in infrastructure, technology, and food imports to strengthen their ties. China has significantly invested in Egyptian state projects, including a Suez Canal economic zone and a new administrative capital east of Cairo. Trade between Egypt and China amounted to approximately $14 billion in 2023, slightly down from $16.6 billion in 2022.
Other summit attendees included Tunisia’s President Kais Saied, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Bahrain’s King Hamad. Established in 2004, the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum serves as a formal dialogue mechanism between China and Arab states.
China’s diplomatic role in the Middle East has grown, exemplified by its 2023 mediation that helped Saudi Arabia and Iran reestablish diplomatic relations, a role traditionally held by global powers like the U.S. and Russia.
