On Sunday, the 5th of November 2017, the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs (ECFA) has received the Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue (Peace Process), H.E. Ambassador Gong Xiaoheng, and his accompanying delegation, where the discussions dealt with the developments in the Palestinian National Reconciliation Process and its implications for the Peace Process, the role of Regional and International Powers, as well as Egyptian-Chinese coordination that aims to change the current status quo in the Peace Process. The issues were discussed in the presence of H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mounir Zahran, ECFA Chairman, H.E Ambassador Dr. Ezzat Saad, ECFA Director, and H.E Ambassador Dr. Muhammad Badre El-Deen Zayed, ECFA Member.
During the talks, China’s Envoy reviewed the outcomes of his round of consultations with both Israeli and Palestinian officials. He stressed that there has been a change in the Israeli stance, manifested by their assurances and keenness to provide assistance to the Palestinian side and the Gaza Strip, for reconstructing the Strip, putting forward some projects before the Chinese side in this regard.
On the Palestinian side, there were clear divisions and differences of views regarding what is being proposed by the Israeli side and what is being promoted regarding what is called “a new US Proposal for resolving the conflict” (regional or economic).
For his part, China’s Envoy stressed his country’s eagerness to coordinate with Egypt to bring the peace process to a successful end, establish a Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its Capital, and seek a comprehensive solution to resolve the Region’s Crises.
The Egyptian side welcomed that, stressing the importance of Israel’s taking the initiative, and showing goodwill to prove the change of its stance, for example by freezing the building of settlements on occupied Palestinian Territory. It is equally important that the US makes a serious move to solve the crisis especially that the new US Administration is preoccupied most with the Iranian threat, viewing it as the top priority threat to peace in the Region.
