5.28.2024

China-Egypt summit, CASCF agenda, Xinjiang is a wonderful land.

Egypt’s President Al-Sisi to visit China, marking a decade of strategic partnership - Al-Sisi will get a summit out of his trip to Beijing for the CASCF. He’ll be meeting with Chinese business leaders: “The discussions will center on attracting further investments to Egypt, aligning with the country’s emphasis on localizing industry and transferring technology through collaboration with the private sector and foreign direct investment.” 2024 is the 10th anniversary of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership, so makes sense that they’d celebrate.

China, Arab states to raise common voice on Palestine issue: senior diplomat - No surprise here. According to Xinhua, Vice FM Deng Li has Palestine front and center of the CASCF agenda: “The conference plans to adopt a number of outcome documents, which will further consolidate the consensus between China and Arab states, plan the next stage of cooperation, and raise a common voice from China and Arab states on the Palestinian issue, he revealed.”

President Xi Jinping to welcome Arab state leaders to China, with Israel-Gaza war, Palestine and trade on the agenda - Laura Zhou with SCMP offers good coverage of China-MENA relations. Here she has the China-GCC FTA as an agenda item as well.

Upcoming China-Arab states cooperation forum highlights solidarity, leading relations to new stage - From Global Times, an overview of the upcoming CASCF featuring comments from Sun Degang and Liu Zhongmin, two of China’s top Middle East experts. Also extended comments from Vice FM Deng Li:

"Regarding the Gaza conflict, there are three short-term and long-term goals that China has always insisted on," Deng said. 

In the short term, we demand an immediate cease-fire and the implementation of the cease-fire resolution passed by the UN Security Council. Secondly, we must focus on alleviating the humanitarian crisis, including ensuring humanitarian aid, opposing the forced displacement of the Palestinian people, and collective punishment of the people of Gaza. Thirdly, we must prevent the spillover effect of this conflict and maintain peace and stability in the entire region, which are our short-term goals, he noted. 

In the long term, the Middle East issue has not been resolved, fundamentally because the independence and statehood of Palestine have not been achieved. This historical injustice that has lasted for decades has not been corrected. The true implementation of the "two-state solution" and the resolution of the concerns of all parties through political means to achieve the goal of Palestinian independence and statehood is the fundamental solution to the Middle East issue and achieving peace and security in the region, Deng further stressed.

Only by achieving the "two-state solution" and fulfilling the historical aspirations of the Palestinian people can the region truly achieve peace. And only by achieving this goal can the security of Israel be fundamentally guaranteed, he said.

Xinjiang is a wonderful land - An op-ed from China’s ambassador to Kuwait, Zhang Jianwei, in which he invites folks to “a theatrical performance, ‘Xinjiang is a Wonderful Land’, which will be held at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center, to enjoy the joyful singing and dancing of people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, and to see the new appearance of Xinjiang in the new era.”