PFLP leader: we highly appreciate China’s constant support for the just cause of the Palestinian people

The fourth China-Arab States Political Parties Dialogue was jointly organised by the International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) together with the Central Party School and the party committee of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on July 13 in Yinchuan, the capital city of Ningxia Hui. It was attended by the leaders of 67 political parties and organisations from 19 Arab countries.

Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Fatah party and President of Palestine, sent a written speech to the gathering, in which he said that the Palestinian side thanked the Chinese side for its long-term commitment to resolving the Palestinian issue in a peaceful and just manner, and highly appreciated President Xi Jinping’s three proposals for this purpose. The Palestinian side firmly supports the one-China principle, resolutely opposes external forces’ interference in China’s internal affairs, and opposes the politicization of human rights issues. Fatah, he said, is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the CPC so as to strengthen communication and cooperation, and to promote the further development of Palestine-China relations as well as Arab States-China relations.

A significant intervention was made in the dialogue by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). In his speech, its Deputy Secretary-General, Jamil Mazhar affirmed the Popular Front’s support for China and its sovereignty and territorial integrity, including with regard to Taiwan, and called for the adoption of joint policies and decisions that would limit the US domination of oil prices, and open huge projects in the fields of energy, as well as the establishment of a global cooperation network for dialogue between Arab and Chinese civilizations.

Mazhar called for China to strengthen its role in pressing for the implementation of resolutions to establish fair international legitimacy for the Palestinian people, in addition to presenting proposals to strengthen the special relationship between the Popular Front and the Communist Party of China.

He conveyed greetings to the CPC from the Palestinian people and from the leadership of the PFLP, in particular from its Secretary-General Ahmed Sa’adat. Comrade Sa’adat has spent much of his life in prison and is presently serving a 30-year sentence handed down by an Israeli military court in 2008. He was placed in solitary confinement in 2010, which was only lifted when he and other PFLP prisoners ended a 21-day hunger strike on 17 October 2011.

Comrade Mazhar further stressed that China is a springboard for important global transformations that put an end to US imperialist hegemony and its savage policies in the world, expressing the Front’s pride in the historical China-Palestine relations, which reflect the depth and strength of relations that unite the two peoples, and which have witnessed a great acceleration in recent years in all fields, highly appreciating China’s constant support for the just causes of the Palestinian people in their struggle to restore their legitimate national rights.

He expressed great confidence that China and its leadership will continue to support the struggle of the Palestinian people for statehood, stressing the Front’s keenness to develop relations with the CPC in all fields.

The previous month, on June 7, the China Daily carried an article by another Palestinian resistance leader. Ahmad Majdalani, Secretary-General of the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front and Executive Committee member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), wrote that, “Palestinians have a strategic interest in the growing role and power of China as a friendly state,” adding:

“We Palestinians welcome the Global Civilization Initiative, as it is based on mutual respect, mutual benefit, equality and development of all countries. Fair and just resolution of global and regional issues has been hindered under the United States-led world order. The Global Civilization Initiative, on the other hand, is a visionary initiative that aligns with Palestinian aspirations and could help the Palestinian president to convene an international peace conference.

“The initiative creates an ideal opportunity in the year that marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Palestine and China to work toward achieving tangible results, in order to realize better benefits for the peoples of both countries and expand cooperation in various fields. Sino-Palestinian constructive cooperation has been progressing well, giving us enough reasons to be optimistic about the possibility of further deepening pragmatic cooperation.”

The leader of the Popular Struggle Front added:

“We expect China to continue supporting the just Palestinian cause, and hope that China will spare no efforts in helping seek serious negotiations in an attempt to resolve the Palestinian issue. And as Palestinians, we must seize this historic moment to strengthen relations with China as a strategic partner and true friend. Palestine also needs to increase practical engagement in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative while playing an important role in shaping humanity’s shared destiny.

“China has begun its journey to build a modern socialist country, which would achieve the goals of developing Arab-Chinese projects and launching strategic partnerships between China and Arab countries, representing a successful model of solidarity, cooperation and mutual benefit.”

The following articles originally appeared on the websites of the IDCPC, the PFLP and China Daily. The article from the PFLP was machine translated from Arabic and lightly edited by us.

Fourth China-Arab States Political Parties Dialogue Held

On July 13th, the fourth China-Arab States Political Parties Dialogue, which was co-organized by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), the Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), the CPC Committee of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, was held in Yinchuan. The dialogue was themed on “China-Arab States civilization exchanges: from the ancient Silk Road to the community with a shared destiny in the new era”. Liu Jianchao, Minister of the IDCPC, Xie Chuntao, Vice President of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) responsible for routine work, and Liang Yanshun, Secretary of the CPC Committee of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region were present. Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of Fatah and President of Palestine sent a written speech to the dialogue. The event’s attendees included political leaders of 67 political parties and organizations from 19 Arab countries and leaders, such as Fatima Habib, leader of the Equity Party and Vice President of the National Assembly of Mauritania, Hassan Benomar, Member of the Political Bureau of the National Rally of Independents (RNI) and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Morocco, Saleban Daher Bile, National Secretary of the People’s Rally for Progress(RPP), Secretary-General of the National Assembly of Djibouti, and representatives of think tanks and media.

In his written speech, Abbas said, the China-Arab States Political Parties Dialogue is a grand gathering of civilizations and cultural exchanges, which will further strengthen the exchanges and cooperation between Arab States and China at national and political-party level. The Palestinian side thanked the Chinese side for the long-term commitment to resolving the Palestinian issue in a peaceful and just manner, and highly appreciated President Xi Jinping’s three proposals for this purpose. The Palestinian side firmly supports the one-China principle, resolutely opposes external forces’ interference in China’s internal affairs, and opposes the politicization of human rights issues. Fatah of Palestine is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the CPC to strengthen communication and cooperation, and push Palestine-China relations and Arab States-China relations for development.

In his keynote speech, Liu noted that General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward the Global Civilization Initiative at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting in March this year, which received warm response from the international community. China and the Arab States have long-standing and profound civilizations, a long history of cultural exchanges, harmonious and inclusive oriental values, and a broad mind of inclusiveness and mutual learning. The CPC is willing to work with the political parties of Arab States to implement the important consensus reached by General Secretary Xi Jinping and the leaders of the Arab States, promote the exchange of concepts, political communication, and cooperation between political parties, think tanks, and at local level comprehensively, build a more open and shared “party+” exchange platform, so as to gather greater synergy for advancing exchanges and cooperation between China and Arab States in various fields. The Chinese side is willing to work with the Arab side to jointly implement the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, to facilitate the harmonious co-existence of all civilizations in the world.

Xie said, the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping has answered the questions of the times and the world, and embodies China’s sentiment for the world and responsibility to integrate its own development with the development of the world. The 20th CPC National Congress emphasized promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in an all-round way through Chinese modernization. While benefiting the Chinese people, Chinese modernization will also bring new development opportunities to countries around the world, including Arab States. The Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) is willing to, together with political parties and think tanks of Arab states, continuously expand exchanges and cooperation, promote mutual learning among civilizations, share governance experience, deepen theoretical research, and contribute wisdom and strength to push the construction of a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era.

Liang said, under the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and the BRI, Ningxia has become the frontier and window of China’s opening up towards and cooperation with Arab States. Fruitful results have continuously been yielded in friendship between the people, cooperation in people’s livelihood, and people-to-people bonds. The good stories of mutual learning and mutual help between both sides have made positive contributions to the construction of a China-Arab community with a shared future. Ningxia will continue to thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, especially General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on opening up to the outside world, proactively integrate into the joint construction of the BRI, further promote economic and trade exchanges to a new level, build a new platform for educational and technological cooperation, and expand new space for people-to-people exchanges, optimize the new environment of comprehensive opening up, give full play to the advantages of Ningxia, promote the development of China-Arab States relations, and benefit the Chinese and Arab peoples.

Leaders of the political parties of the Arab side present spoke highly of the remarkable achievements in the development of modernization made by the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core. They believed that China maintained strong development momentum, played a more important role in the international arena, and facilitated reconciliation among Middle East countries, and brought encouragement and hope to Arab countries longing for peace, stability and prosperity. The Arab side highly appreciated and actively responded to the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, the BRI, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, believing these concepts and major initiatives will help the world better respond to global challenges and strive for a bright future for mankind. Political parties, think tanks, and media of Arab State expressed the willingness to work with the CPC to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning of experience in party building and state governance, promote the integration of Arab and Chinese civilizations and practical cooperation in various fields, and push the construction of an Arab-China community with a shared future in the new era.

After the opening ceremony, the attendees had in-depth discussions on topics such as “the history and future of China-Arab civilization exchanges”, “exploring independent modernization roads”, “opportunities and challenges in China and Arab joint construction of the BRI” and other topics. A declaration on the implementation of the Global Civilization Initiative was approved at the event.

Zhang Yupu, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Chairman of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Chen Yong, Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Ningxia Hui Autonomous Regional Committee and others were attended the dialogue. Zhu Rui, Assistant-minister of the IDCPC presided over the event. Responsible officials of relevant departments of the CPC Central Committee and state organs were present.

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PFLP Deputy Secretary-General delivers speech during the dialogue between the CPC and the parties of Arab countries

Jamil Mazhar, Deputy Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), delivered an important speech during the dialogue conference between the Communist Party of China and the parties of Arab countries, attended by 67 parties and institutions from 19 Arab countries, in which he praised China’s continuous efforts to create historic transformations towards a multipolar world of social justice, security and stability, and put an end to the brutal imperialism led by the United States of America, the center of terrorism and evil in the world.

During his speech, the Deputy Secretary-General added that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ideas of socialism with Chinese characteristics open a new era, which puts the whole world in front of an important turning point and fundamental changes at all levels – economic, social, cultural and others – and also puts the world on the threshold of reforms and recovery from the disease of US imperialism and its savage policies.

The Deputy Secretary-General stressed that the Belt and Road Initiative establishes a global trade and economic network that contributes to salvation from the hegemony of the US system and the piracy of the US and its allies in trade, instead putting all countries on the same level, with common gains and benefits, and so serving humanity that is destroyed, depleted and impoverished by criminal imperialist policies.

The Deputy Secretary-General affirmed that China’s interest in implementing this initiative with the Arab countries constituted great hope in terms of liberating these countries from the burden of American hegemony and dependence, allowing these countries to benefit from the ideas of this initiative in promoting economic projects, expanding trade lines, and benefiting from Chinese expertise and companies, to open investment projects that benefit China and the Arab countries, and eliminate American hegemony and the unjust dictates and conditions of the World Bank in the region.

The Deputy Secretary-General stressed that China’s success over the past years in pushing forward this initiative, in order to expand cooperation with Arab countries economically and commercially, will have important repercussions on the living conditions in Arab countries, and positive repercussions on the Palestinian cause.

The Deputy Secretary-General affirmed the Popular Front’s support for China and its sovereignty and territorial integrity, including Taiwan, presenting a number of proposals aimed at strengthening the relationship between China and the parties in the Arab countries, the most important of which is the need to name a Chinese permanent representative in the Arab countries, open the door wide for the exchange of Chinese and Arab experiences, and carry out a strategic dialogue between the two parties to increase opportunities for Chinese and Arab partnership, and adopt joint policies and decisions that limit the US domination of oil prices, and open huge projects in the fields of energy, and the establishment of a global cooperation network for dialogue between Arab and Chinese civilizations.

The Deputy Secretary-General called for the need for China to strengthen its role in pressing for the implementation of resolutions of fair international legitimacy for the Palestinian people, in addition to proposals to strengthen the special relationship between the Popular Front and the Communist Party of China.

The Deputy Secretary-General conveyed the greetings of our resistant and steadfast Palestinian people under racist colonial occupation in the face of settlement policies, Judaization, annexation, apartheid, genocide, and ethnic cleansing.

He also conveyed the greetings of Comrade Secretary-General of the Popular Front, the Palestinian national leader, Ahmed Sa’adat, and comrades in the Political Bureau and the Central Committee, highly appreciating the initiative of comrades in the Communist Party of China, to organize this important conference and invite us to it, in addition to the warm reception, the administration and organization, and the program and protocol.

He stressed that China is a springboard for important global transformations that put an end to US imperialist hegemony and its savage policies in the world, expressing the Front’s pride in the historical China-Palestine relations, which reflect the depth and strength of relations that unite the two peoples, which have witnessed a great acceleration in recent years in all fields, highly appreciating China’s constant support for the just causes of the Palestinian people in their struggle to restore their legitimate national rights.

The Deputy Secretary-General expressed great confidence that China and its leadership will continue to support the struggle of the Palestinian people for statehood, stressing the Front’s keenness to develop relations with the CPC in all fields.

At the end of his speech, he called for the need for China to always be a vital supporter in confronting the policies of occupation, strengthening its presence for a just solution to the Palestinian issue, and continuing its efforts to expand opportunities for partnership with Arab countries in building the Belt and Road, which will reflect positively on the interests of the two peoples, expressing his thanks to China and comrades in the Communist Party of China for hosting this conference, expressing confidence that decisions will come out of the conference that serve the common goals shared between China and the Arab countries.

On the sidelines of the conference, Comrade Mazhar met with senior Chinese ministers and officials, most notably Mr. Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), Mr. Xie Chuntao, First Vice-Chairman of the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance), and Mr. Zhu Rui, Assistant Minister of the IDCPC.

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Palestine welcomes China’s initiatives

Palestinians have a strategic interest in the growing role and power of China as a friendly state. The increase in China’s economic and political influence at the international level is essential for maintaining global peace and development in accordance with the China-proposed Global Civilization Initiative, which is aimed at building a new, fair and just multipolar world order as an alternative to the existing unipolar and unfair international order.

The Global Civilization Initiative draws on China’s long history and the prime position it once held as a civilization.

Proposing the Global Civilization Initiative earlier this year, President Xi Jinping said it will inject fresh and strong energy into common development and progress in a world fraught with multiple challenges and crises. Elaborating on the initiative at the Communist Party of China in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting in March, Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, called for respecting the diversity of civilizations, advocating the common values of humanity, valuing the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and strengthening people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.

We Palestinians welcome the Global Civilization Initiative, as it is based on mutual respect, mutual benefit, equality and development of all countries. Fair and just resolution of global and regional issues has been hindered under the United States-led world order. The Global Civilization Initiative, on the other hand, is a visionary initiative that aligns with Palestinian aspirations and could help the Palestinian president to convene an international peace conference.

The initiative creates an ideal opportunity in the year that marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Palestine and China to work toward achieving tangible results, in order to realize better benefits for the peoples of both countries and expand cooperation in various fields. Sino-Palestinian constructive cooperation has been progressing well, giving us enough reasons to be optimistic about the possibility of further deepening pragmatic cooperation.

Besides, the Belt and Road Initiative is not merely a modern version of the ancient Silk Road; it is also a vehicle to boost China’s soft power and crystallize the contours of China’s growing role in the international system which is undergoing structural changes. It is based on trade and economy, common interests, and market openness, not on any ideology, as is the case with the US-led world order. In fact, for the US and some other Western countries, even their foreign policies are shaped based on their ideology.

Sino-Palestinian diplomatic relations are based on the acknowledgement of the “one China” principle, which is also the fundamental political basis for the development of bilateral relations between China and other countries. China treats all countries as equals, emphasizes the importance of consultation and dialogue to resolve bilateral and regional issues, and promotes common development without attaching any political conditions.

Given these facts, we Palestinians support and are ready to participate in the Global Civilization Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative.

During Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s four-day visit to China starting on June 14, the two sides jointly announced the establishment of a strategic partnership. President Xi said China and Palestine are good friends and partners that trust and support each other.

Given the fast-changing international situation and new changes in the situation in the Middle East, China has said it is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Palestine to promote a comprehensive, fair and lasting solution to the Palestine issue. In fact, China has always supported the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights.

The two sides should therefore deepen cooperation and promote genuine pluralism to better protect the common interests of developing countries and help build a fair and just world order. It is necessary to mention here that China is taking measures to expand coordination and cooperation with Palestine to push for an early, just and sustainable resolution to the Palestinian issue.

Further, the strategic partnership between the two sides is an important milestone in bilateral relations, which will pave the way for China to consolidate friendly cooperation with Palestine in various fields.

We expect China to continue supporting the just Palestinian cause, and hope that China will spare no efforts in helping seek serious negotiations in an attempt to resolve the Palestinian issue. And as Palestinians, we must seize this historic moment to strengthen relations with China as a strategic partner and true friend. Palestine also needs to increase practical engagement in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative while playing an important role in shaping humanity’s shared destiny.

China has begun its journey to build a modern socialist country, which would achieve the goals of developing Arab-Chinese projects and launching strategic partnerships between China and Arab countries, representing a successful model of solidarity, cooperation and mutual benefit.

We Palestinians should strive to achieve shared development, promote justice and fairness, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and integrate the Belt and Road Initiative with the development projects of Arab states, implement the consensuses reached at the Arab-China Summit for Cooperation and Development in Riyadh in December last year, promote the values of solidarity, tolerance and mutual respect, and vigorously move toward the goal of building an Arab-Chinese community with a shared future.