China ready to work with Palestine on goals

Premier Li Qiang said on Thursday that China is ready to work with Palestine to push for concrete outcomes in promoting the two countries' newly established strategic partnership, as he met with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing.

Li said China and Palestine are good friends and partners. The elevation of bilateral ties to a strategic partnership, as announced by President Xi Jinping and Abbas on Wednesday, will bring the China-Palestine relationship to a new level, he said.

Noting that this year marks the 35th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, Li called on the two countries to continue to firmly support each other, promote pragmatic cooperation and actively enhance people-to-people exchanges in order to carry forward their traditional friendliness.

China will keep working to promote a comprehensive, fair and lasting solution to the Palestine issue, he said.

Abbas said he appreciated China's strong support for the just cause of the Palestinian people. The Palestinian side also resolutely supports China's reunification and supports the country's efforts to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests, he added.

Abbas expressed his country's willingness to strengthen friendly cooperation with China and push for an early solution to the Palestine issue.

China's top legislator Zhao Leji also met with Abbas on Thursday.

During their meeting, Zhao, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said China's legislature is willing to continue close and friendly exchanges with the Palestinian legislature and contribute to advancing practical cooperation between the two countries.

No matter how the international situation changes, China will always firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, he said. Zhao also introduced Abbas to the Chinese path to modernization.

The Palestinian president is in China for a four-day visit, which concludes on Friday.

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn