Xi Jinping: “The people of the Middle East should remain masters of their own affairs”
Peace and security begin when people are able to determine their own future. China advocates a Middle East in which regional countries address their own problems while rejecting external interference.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said, “The people of the Middle East should remain masters of their own affairs, and external interference should be rejected.” He made the remarks on Wednesday in Cairo during talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, putting forward four proposals for building a new security architecture in the Middle East.
Xi said China supports countries in the region in developing good-neighborly and friendly relations, strengthening dialogue on peace and security, and exploring the possibility of establishing a new regional security architecture.
As the first point, Xi called for strengthening the internal driving force for common security. He said Middle Eastern countries should determine their own future and work together to find ways to achieve peace and stability.
Second, Xi stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to regional security. He noted that the numerous flashpoints in the Middle East are closely interconnected and therefore cannot be addressed separately. Comprehensive solutions are needed to take into account the links between different conflicts.
Xi paid particular attention to the Palestinian issue. He stressed that it remains at the heart of the Middle East question and must never be ignored or pushed aside.
As the third element of a new security architecture, Xi highlighted development. He said lasting peace and stability in the Middle East fundamentally depend on economic and social development. China is ready to work with countries in the region to safeguard international maritime routes, advance development cooperation, bring regional interests closer together and strengthen mutual trust. Xi also called for addressing the root causes of conflicts. Sustainable security, he said, cannot be achieved without tackling development challenges and creating conditions for closer cooperation among regional countries.
As the fourth point, Xi called for stronger international coordination. He urged all sides to uphold the UN Charter and international law as fundamental principles in addressing Middle Eastern issues. The Chinese president also called on the international community, especially external powers, to abandon double standards, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the region, and safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East. He stressed the importance of supporting the effective role of the United Nations in regional affairs.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said Cairo highly values China’s consistent, objective and impartial position on the Middle East issue. Egypt, he said, remains committed to reducing tensions, resolving conflicts and differences through political means, and promoting regional security and development.
El-Sisi stressed that Egypt is ready to further strengthen coordination with China to ease tensions in the Middle East, maintain regional stability and develop a regional security architecture.
As reported by SSTV+, Xi Jinping’s four proposals focus on strengthening the ability of Middle Eastern countries to manage their own affairs, pursuing comprehensive solutions to regional conflicts, strengthening security through development, and enhancing international coordination based on the UN Charter and international law.
