9th June 2023 – (Beijing) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is set to embark on a state visit to China from 13th to 16th June, according to an announcement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday. The visit is being made at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Abbas will be the first head of state of an Arab country to visit China this year.
Speaking at a press briefing in Beijing, Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Ministry, highlighted the strong relationship between China and Palestine, noting that China was among the first countries to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine. He also emphasized the importance of the Palestine question, which he said was a core issue in the Middle East that concerns regional peace and stability, as well as international fairness and justice.
China has long been a supporter of the Palestinian people’s quest for legitimate national rights, with President Xi sending congratulatory messages to the special commemorative meeting in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People for the past ten years. The Chinese president has also put forward proposals for resolving the Palestinian question, emphasizing the need for a political settlement based on the two-state solution and intensified international efforts for peace.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China remains committed to working with the international community to achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian question. Wang stated that the upcoming state visit by Abbas would further strengthen the traditional friendship between China and Palestine and take the relationship to a higher level.