Palestinian leader Abbas on China visit
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas began a four-day visit to China on Tuesday, with Beijing expressing readiness to help facilitate Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. The Foreign Ministry said China is willing to help broker relations between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government that have deteriorated in recent years.  CCTV quoted Foreign Minister Qin Gang as saying that "China supports the resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel as soon as possible on the basis of the ‘two-state solution,’ and is willing to play an active role in this regard." Official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Abbas will meet with President Xi Jinping during the trip. The two leaders are expected to "exchange opinions... on the latest developments on the Palestinian arena as well as on regional and international issues of mutual concern," Wafa reported. Abbas will also meet with Premier Li Qiang, the agency added. The Palestinian leader made the visit at the invitation of Xi. This is his fifth state visit to China and the first since July 2017. Earlier, Beijing hosted talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia that resulted in the two countries restoring diplomatic relations. That development was seen as representing a diplomatic victory for China as Gulf Arab states perceive the United States slowly withdrawing from the wider region. (Agencies)