BEIJING, May 15 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang met with Palestinian Presidency Secretary General Tayeb Abdul Rahim on Monday, pledging China's firm support for the Middle East peace process.

The Belt and Road Initiative brings a new opportunity for China-Palestinian relations, said Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

China will continue to help Palestinians realize their dream of an independent Palestinian state, he said.

Abdul Rahim congratulated China on the success of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing. He said he hoped bilateral cooperation would be strengthened and China would play a bigger role in peace talks between Palestineand Israel.