Abbas asks for help with peace process

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has sent delegations to China and Russia, seeking international sponsorship for the peace process as Beijing hosts a two-day symposium on peace between Palestine and Israel on Thursday.

Ahmed Majdalani, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee, and Hilik Bar, deputy speaker of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, will lead delegations attending the symposium.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet with the participants and Chen Xiaodong, assistant foreign minister, will address the opening ceremony.

The meeting aims to provide a platform for people from both nations who advocate peace to express their aspirations as a way to encourage new ideas for pushing the peace process forward, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a news briefing on Wednesday.

Abbas was quoted by AFP as saying the United States can no longer be a mediator in talks, following US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Dec 6.

Nabil Shaath, Abbas' foreign relations adviser, who has been on the trips to Russia and China, expressed appreciation in an interview with Xinhua News Agency for China's "historical" support to the Palestinian cause, and pointed out that China is ready to play a role in reviving the peace process, stalled since 2014.

Hua reiterated on Wednesday China's firm support for the Middle East peace process, saying China's position on the Palestinian issue is consistent.

"China will not change its support for the Palestinian people in their just cause to regain legitimate national rights and interests," she said at a regular news conference in Beijing.

She also called for unity from the United Nations Security Council as well as the international community to cool the recent tensions over Jerusalem and safeguard peace in the Middle East.

The UN General Assembly will hold an emergency session on Thursday to vote on a draft resolution condemning Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital after the United States vetoed the measure at the Security Council on Monday.