Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed a four-point approach to a new Middle East security architecture, calling for common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.
During talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo on Wednesday, Xi called for regional countries to strengthen dialogue and mutual trust, address interconnected conflicts, promote development and reject external interference in regional affairs.
The four-point framework is detailed as follows:
- Common security — regional countries should work toward security that benefits all sides.
- Comprehensive security — address the interconnected conflicts and underlying causes, including the Palestinian issue.
- Cooperative security — strengthen regional dialogue, mutual trust and international coordination, including through the UN.
- Sustainable security — build lasting peace through economic development, stability and cooperation.
“People in the Middle East should remain masters of their own affairs, and external interference should be rejected,” Xi said.
He called for a comprehensive approach to resolving the region’s interconnected conflicts, stressing that the Palestinian issue remains central to the Middle East question.
“The Palestinian issue remains at the core of the Middle East question and should never be overlooked or marginalised,” he said.
Xi also said lasting regional peace and stability depended on development, adding that China was ready to cooperate with Middle Eastern countries to safeguard international shipping lanes, promote development and build mutual trust.
He urged the international community to uphold the UN Charter and international law, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional countries, avoid double standards and support the United Nations’ role in Middle East affairs.
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El-Sisi said Egypt appreciated China’s “consistent, objective, and impartial stance on the Middle East question,” and reaffirmed Cairo’s commitment to de-escalation and political solutions.
“Egypt stands ready to continue strengthening coordination with China to ease tensions in the Middle East, safeguard regional stability, and explore a regional security architecture,” El-Sisi said.
The two leaders also discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation and coordination on regional and international issues.
Xinhua
