China's political role in Middle East will only be enhanced

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a recent interview with Al Jazeera that China's political role in the Middle East will only be enhanced, not diminished, according to a press release by Foreign Ministry issued here Thursday.

China is always ready to have cooperation for mutual benefit with all countries in this region, Arab countries in particular, not only in the economic field, but also in the political, security and military fields, said Wang, in response to some claims that China's role in the Middle East is largely economic.

"Having said that, there is always a need for prioritization, and a need for China to build up its capabilities for sustained expansion of such cooperation," he said.

He said it is true that China-Arab cooperation in recent years has mainly focused on the economic field. "That is because we believe that development holds the key to and serves as the foundation for solving all problems. Any solution to hotspot and political issues hinges on economic growth and better life for the people," he said.

As far as Arab countries are concerned, the most crucial task facing them is national development and economic revitalization, the foreign minister said.

He said China is ready to do what it can to provide help and assistance as it has done in the past.

Since 2012, China has provided humanitarian assistance on six occasions totalling 18 million U.S. dollars to the Syrian people and Syrian refugees in Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon, he added.

"China has offered support and assistance over the years, not just this year (in 2013). Back in the days when we were extremely poor and less developed, we tightened our belt to support the Middle East people in their just cause, especially the Palestinian people," he said.

Wang said China will continue to do so in the future and play a role in the political field as well.

"China's political role in the Middle East will only be enhanced, not diminished," he said.

He said China hosted the visits to China by leaders of Palestine and Israel at about the same time and the United Nations International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace in Beijing in 2013.

President Xi Jinping also sent a congratulatory message to the meeting held by the United Nations to mark the "International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People," he added.

He said he himself attended the Palestinian-Israeli peace symposium during his Middle East visit from Dec. 17 to 26 and invited persons of vision from both sides to the symposium.

"We offered a platform for all to make their views heard, to seek more consensus, and to raise the voice for peace together," said Wang.

"I think this is a useful endeavor, and if continued, the voice for peace will become louder and the forces for peace will grow stronger. All this will help to provide impetus to and exert positive influence on the negotiations between the two sides," the foreign minister said.

All in all, China's all-round role will gradually and more visibly be felt by Arab countries and get their understanding and support, he said.