Mideast trip aims to boost friendship, cooperation, says Chinese FM

ALGIERS, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that the purpose of his trip to Syria, Egypt and Algeria is to push forward the implementation of the consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and the heads of state of the three Mideast countries, and to enhance friendship.

Wang made the remarks during an interview with Chinese press as he wrapped up his visit to the Middle East.

He said that his visit is also to strengthen mutual trust, deepen cooperation, promote regional peace and stability, push forward unity and cooperation among developing countries, and safeguard international fairness and justice.

Wang said that he and his hosts have agreed to strengthen strategic communication and coordination, continue to support each other on issues involving their respective core interests and major concerns, and make new contributions to the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future.

All parties have also agreed that the joint construction of the Belt and Road serves the fundamental interests of both China and Arab states, and the two sides will continue to deepen cooperation in such fields as infrastructure, industrial parks, energy and transportation, information and communication, aviation and aerospace, personnel training, in a bid to achieve common development, said the senior diplomat.

"We all agree that it is urgent to realize peace and stability in the Middle East and all parties should work together to find a permanent solution," he added.

Wang also noted that facing the sudden strike of the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Arab states have helped each other, set a good example of jointly battling the pandemic, and opened up new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation, adding that China has donated and exported over 72 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to 17 Arab countries and the Arab League.

China and the Arab states hold that the origin tracing of the virus is a scientific issue, which should be carried out by professionals in a scientific manner, Wang said, adding that politicization of the pandemic should be rejected.

In the next stage, China will work with Arab countries to further carry out joint production of vaccines, promote fair distribution of vaccines, oppose "vaccine nationalism," and continue to contribute to the world's final victory over the virus, he added.

Trampling on the sovereignty of other countries in the name of democratic transformation is an unpopular practice, Wang said, noting that instigating "color revolutions" and forcing regime changes are even more harmful.

The international community should urge the United States and the West to immediately lift all unilateral sanctions and economic blockades against Syria, and on that basis quickly carry out cross-line humanitarian assistance on the premise of respecting Syria's sovereignty, he said.

China is committed to upholding sovereign independence and territorial integrity of all countries, and Syria is no exception, he said, adding that China is ready to work with the international community to make due contribution to restoring stability and realizing reconstruction in Syria.

Wang noted that the Palestinian issue concerns the root cause of unrest in the Middle East. A settlement of the issue cannot be delayed indefinitely, and Palestine's dream to build an independent state should not be shelved indefinitely, he said.

China welcomes Palestinian and Israeli representatives to hold direct talks in China, and calls for an international peace conference led by the United Nations (UN), with the participation of permanent members of the UN Security Council and all stakeholders in the Middle East peace process, so as to truly step up efforts to resolve this historically unsolved case, Wang said.

China will continue to provide much-needed assistance to Palestine on the existing basis and donate another one million doses of vaccines to the Palestinian side, Wang said.

China will also work with Egypt to jointly provide 500,000 doses of vaccines to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, relying on the vaccine packing plant established jointly by the two countries in Egypt, he added.

Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the People's Republic of China's lawful seat in the UN, Wang said that over the past 50 years, China and other developing countries have always supported each other, vigorously boosted the democratization of international relations, world multi-polarization and economic globalization.

Developing countries have also always extended valuable support to China over the issues concerning China's core interests, and become China's strong reliance, he said.

China and other developing countries should resolutely defend fairness and justice, safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity, oppose hegemonism and power politics, practice genuine multilateralism, and resist a minority group imposing its rules on the international community, Wang said.

China and other developing countries should back each other in searching for paths of development that fit their national conditions, and promote such common values as peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, which are shared by all humankind, Wang said.