NANNING (Xinhua) – China has urged the United States and the West to stop interfering in Middle East affairs and trying to transform the region according to their own standards.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks when holding talks with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad via video link.
Calling for more cooperation, multilateralism and lasting peace, Wang said China firmly supports the people of the Middle East in independently exploring the development path, and supports the countries in resolving regional security issues through unity and self-improvement.
The Palestine issue is at the core of the Middle East issue and should not be forgotten by the international community, let alone marginalized, Wang said, adding that China is willing to push the Palestine issue back to the top of the international agenda.
“We believe that our brothers and sisters in the Middle East have the ability and wisdom to maintain the overall situation of peace and stability and solve the problems left over from history,” Wang said, urging the United States and the West to correct their old problems, truly respect the sovereignty of countries in the region, and do things that are conducive to the peaceful development of the region, based on the needs of the people in the region.
Wang said the Chinese side is willing to work with the Syrian side to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and promote the sustained, stable and healthy development of China-Syria ties, and will continue to speak up for Syria to safeguard its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national dignity, support Syria in improving relations with its neighbors, and wish Syria an early restoration of peace and stability.
The remarks by Chinese foreign minister come amid U.S. President Joe Biden’s controversial tour of the region.
President Biden was in Saudi Arabia, where he met with King Salman and de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Biden arrived in the kingdom on a direct flight from the Israeli-occupied territories on Friday. The trip, which is considered a strong signal of Saudi Arabia’s forward movement to opening relations with the Zionist regime, has sparked anger among critics.
Some say Biden is largely following in the footsteps of the administration of former president Donald Trump in its relations with the Saudis.