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Eurasia
09/07/2023 12:00
Qatar hopes to strengthen ties with China and work together on easing regional tensions, its state minister told Beijing’s special envoy on Middle East affairs Zhai Jun, according to South China Morning Post.
During the talks in Doha, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi said Qatar looked forward to boosting communication and coordination with China on hotspot issues in the region, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
Zhai said China attached importance to Qatar’s “unique and important role” in regional and international affairs and was willing to make joint efforts to maintain peace and stability, the site added.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping in June told the visiting president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, that China was willing to help promote peace talks with Israel, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also expected to visit Beijing in July.
A Beijing-brokered deal reached in March between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restart diplomatic relations has raised expectations that China could act as a mediator in other conflicts, including between Israelis and Palestinians, SCMP noted.
This year marks 35 years since China and Qatar established diplomatic ties. Al-Khulaifi said the two nations had profound relations and had maintained a high level of coordination and cooperation in various fields.