Contribute Positive Energy to the Middle East Peace Process

By WU SIKE

Stance of the New Leadership

Chinas new generation of leaders extended invitations to the Palestinian and Israeli leaders shortly after assuming office， so signifying the importance they lay on the Middle East situation.

The Palestinian problem is a world hotspot that remains unresolved after more than half a century. Rather than avoiding it or taking a detour， about two months after assuming office the new generation of Chinese leaders confronted this complicated issue. This shows that China， in line with its responsibilities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a world power， is ready to participate in resolving international conflicts. This stance is evident in Chinas support for negotiated settlements of the Palestinian matter and its concern over the extended deadlock in the peace process. China advocates resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks， and encourages both sides to take practical action towards creating an atmosphere favorable to resumption of peace talks. As Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his meeting with Abbas， both parties should follow the trend of the times and adhere to the path of peace talks through compromise and mutual understanding.

These meetings also signify Chinas self-confidence in diplomatic dealings. After years of development， China has vastly improved its national strength as well as international status and influence.

China， moreover， has a distinct advantage in having maintained good bilateral relationships with both Palestine and Israel. It thus constitutes a driving force towards finding a solution.

During his meeting with President Abbas， President Xi raised four proposals on settlement of the Palestinian issue. Their aim was to encourage both parties to advance the peace process through negotiation and compromise. The proposals explicate a direction that adheres to the principles of Palestine independence and peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel while respecting Israels right to existence and security. They also make clear that negotiation is the sole way of achieving peace. The proposals define the primary principles to be adhered to and which the international community accepts， such as “l(fā)and for peace.” They call for a strengthened sense of responsibility and urgency from the international community through provision of guarantees that advance the peace process. The proposals embody Chinas long-term stance and incorporate new factors resulting from changes in the Middle East. They reflect Chinas hope that the Middle East peace process will be resumed without delay and that peace will prevail. The war-torn Middle East， meanwhile， remains in turmoil， even though peace， stability and development are the common expectations of countries in the region. It is hence in all parties interests to resolve the dispute through political means.

Abbas was the first Middle East leader that the new Chinese government invited to visit after taking office. The invitation highlights the importance Chinese leaders lay on the Middle East issue， and their consistent position on supporting Palestine.

During his maiden trip abroad， President Xi visited three African countries as well as Russia. This implies the importance China places on the continent that is home to such a large number of developing countries. WANA （West Asia and North Africa） encompasses many such countries that have unequivocably supported China on core issues. They constitute a force that China can trust and rely on. In the new historical era， consolidating and developing our relationship with these countries requires careful planning and proactive promotion. As Xi pointed out， Palestine has long been at the core of Middle East issues and hence wields global impact. Inviting Abbas to visit represented a key link in Chinas comprehensive diplomatic layout and the maturity of its relationship with the Arab world.

Pushing forward development of the bilateral relationship， especially cooperation in economy， trade， science and technology， constitutes the main result of the visits. Since the 18th CPC National Congress， promoting sustainable development and rejuvenation of the Chinese nation have been the long-term goals of the new generation of leaders and the entire Chinese people.

The “Chinese Dream” will come true not behind closed doors， but through a more open approach. We should therefore promote international exchanges and cooperation in efforts to achieve mutual benefits for China and the world. Discussions on how to improve cooperation in economy， science and technology were key features of the visits of both the Palestinian and Israeli leaders. At this special historical stage， Palestine hopes that more Chinese companies and factories will explore and invest in the West Bank. Discussions with the Israeli prime minister included development and cooperation in broader areas.

The new generation of Chinese leaders is bent on promoting practical bilateral cooperation and broadening communication and exchanges. Promoting such bilateral cooperation with Palestine and Israel were consequently predominant aspects of the respective visits. China and Palestine signed agreements on strengthening cooperation in economy， trade， culture and education. They also discussed ways of encouraging Chinese companies to invest in the West Bank and utilize its resources. Palestine expressed willingness to take measures towards achieving mutual benefit and enriching the friendship between China and Palestine.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Israel more than 20 years ago， their rapport has grown considerably. On this occasion both parties， in the spirit of equality， mutual trust and learning， tolerance， cooperation and win-win， held in-depth discussions on how to complement one another and deepen practical cooperation in science and technology， water conservation and clean energy. Both also agreed to establish a special coordination organization.

Both Abbas and Netanyahu voiced satisfaction at the results of their visits as well as their high regard for China， and expectations that the country might influence the Middle East peace process. The leaders also expressed hopes of a speedy resumption of peace talks. Abbas later remarked to Arab envoys that， from the first to the current generation of Chinese leaders， the principle and stance of supporting the just cause of Palestine has remained consistent. China is thus a trustworthy friend and brother.

Main Obstacle

Promoting a solution to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict is still a long way off. Unless it is resolved， the Palestinian issue will have negative influence throughout the Middle East. President Xi made this point in his talks with the leaders of Palestine and Israel. The Palestine issue involves Arabs and Jews， both of whom have long histories. In earlier times， both lived in the area perceived by Judaism， Christianity and Islam as the Holy Land. Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian dispute hence involves the relationship between the Arabic and Jewish nations and other multiple complex relations among nations， religions and countries. But land is the most fundamental issue. That other major powers also exert their influence in the region complicates the situation.

Palestine lost all its territory after the third Arab-Israeli War in 1967. Palestine and Israel signed the historically significant Oslo Accords 20 years ago. Today， although the Palestine Authority has been established for many years， the reconciliation process between Palestine and Israel has nevertheless experienced twists and turns. Palestine has long sought to establish itself as a country based on the borders defined in 1967. At the same time， it accepts certain territorial exchanges on the basis of such borders， whereby Palestine and Israel exchange small tracts of land under a “two-state solution.”

During my visit to Palestine at the end of April the leaders I met with expressed expectations that I would convey to Israel their hopes of its compiling a map showing the relevant borders for discussion. The status of Jerusalem is another thorny problem. After the 1967 war， Israel occupied Jerusalem. Palestine， meanwhile， insisted on establishing a country whose capital would be in east Jerusalem. Land ownership is thus the root of the issue.

Resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute demands adherence to the “l(fā)and for peace” principle， which discussion is the sole political means of achieving. Abbas stressed that a political solution is the best and only way forward. Palestine insisted on peace and sought negotiation on the basis of the “two-state solution”to eventually achieve peaceful coexistence. Netanyahu said during his China visit that Israel desired peace， and that it would be willing to achieve it through negotiation. Israel also expressed appreciation of Chinas efforts to promote the Middle East peace process and its desire to maintain communication with China.

Although both Palestine and Israel want to negotiate， neither trusts the other. Radical domestic forces in both countries moreover exacerbate the difficulty of the process. The Chinese government must support and promote the Middle East peace process through negotiation， based on mutually accepted principles like “l(fā)and for peace” and relevant resolutions of the United Nations and the Arab Peace Initiative. China is also willing to cooperate with the international community in promoting confidence-building and a negotiated settlement.

Broader Concerns

The regional situation of WANA is also a key issue that needed consultation among Chinese， Palestinian and Israeli leaders. As to political changes in Arabic countries that are experiencing turmoil， China from the outset stressed that it respected the choices made by their people. This policy has been proven through diplomatic practice. After regime changes in certain WANA countries， China maintained and developed good relationships that led to bilateral cooperation. China is willing to strengthen cooperation in governance and economic development. China moreover hopes that different political forces will seek shared interests and resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation， thus minimizing the transition period.

This policy applies to the current situation in Syria. China adheres to the principle whereby the nations people should decide its future. China unequivocally opposes foreign interference， especially military intervention. By the same token， it has not merely sat by and watched， but worked hard to promote peace. China stressed that all parties in Syria should cease violent actions immediately， and solve conflicts through negotiation. No matter whether dealing with the Syrian government， or opposition at home or abroad， China has contacted and guided them towards the negotiating table， maintaining that the notion of conquering through military means should be given up as fantasy. China does not protect those in power， or favor any particular side， because it has neither the strength nor inclination to do so. Chinas focus is on friendship with Syria， the interests of its people， and peace and stability in the region.

There is an old Chinese saying， “Three feet of ice are not frozen in a day.” The Middle East issue is complicated and farreaching， and cannot be resolved overnight. Relevant parties and the international community should be aware of the urgency of the situation. But they must at the same time muster the patience necessary to generate confidence enough for all parties to negotiate， establish mutual trust and eventually set up a Palestinian nation. Only then can peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel， between the Arabic and Jewish nations and peace and prosperity in the Middle East be achieved. China is willing to pool its efforts with those of all concerned in the Middle East and the international community， so contributing positive energy to the process.