Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday put forward a four-point proposal to establish a new security architecture in the Middle East, based on a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.
During his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, he stated that China supported countries in the region in developing good neighborly and friendly relations.
In order to promote common security in the region, Mr. Xi said that efforts should be made to strengthen the internal drivers of this common security in the region.
The people of the Middle East must remain masters of their own affairs and any outside interference must be rejected, he said, stressing that China supports countries in the region in their efforts to strengthen dialogue on peace and security, explore the establishment of a new security architecture for the Middle East and take their future into their own hands.
Mr. Xi said that a comprehensive approach was needed to advance common security in the region and that, given the multiple hotspots of tension in the Middle East and their close interconnections, comprehensive solutions should be sought.
The Palestinian question remains at the heart of the Middle East problem and must not be neglected or sidelined under any circumstances, he added.
It is necessary to strengthen the foundations of common security through development, Mr. Xi continued, stressing that lasting peace and stability in the Middle East fundamentally depend on development.
China is willing to work with Middle Eastern countries to safeguard the security of international sea lanes, advance development cooperation, promote the convergence of interests of countries in the region, gradually strengthen mutual trust and eliminate the root causes of conflict, he added.
Mr. Xi stressed the need to strengthen international coordination for common security in the region and emphasized that the UN Charter and international law should serve as fundamental principles for managing Middle Eastern affairs.
The international community, particularly external powers, should abandon the policy of double standards in the Middle East, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries in the region, and preserve regional peace and stability, he added.
Mr. Xi also called for support for the effective role played by the UN in Middle Eastern affairs.
For his part, Mr. Sisi said that Egypt greatly appreciated China’s consistent, objective and impartial position on the Middle East issue, stressing that his country was committed to promoting peace in the region, resolving conflicts and disputes through political means, and promoting security and development in the region.
He indicated that Cairo was willing to continue strengthening its coordination with Beijing in order to ease tensions in the Middle East, preserve stability in the region, and explore the establishment of a regional security architecture. End