The president of China, Xi Jinping, reiterated this Wednesday his opposition to any type of external interference as an essential pillar to ensure stability in the Middle East, emphasizing that the region must rely on "endogenous forces" to guarantee its own security.
During his official visit to Egypt, where he met with President Abdelfattah al-Sisi, the Chinese leader expressed his support for the states in the area to promote good-neighborly relations, advance towards a shared vision of security, and establish "a new security architecture."
In this line, Xi urged to "stimulate the endogenous driving force for common regional security," stressing that the countries of the Middle East are "masters of their own destiny" and rejecting "external interference." Therefore, he advocated for promoting dialogue on peace and security and "exploring the reconfiguration of the regional security architecture."
According to the Chinese leader, this approach must be accompanied by a comprehensive management of security challenges in the area. "The Middle East has many critical points with strong internal connections, and comprehensive solutions must be explored," he pointed out, according to the Xinhua agency, insisting on the need to address conflicts in a coordinated manner.
Xi specifically referred to the Palestinian conflict, which he described as "still the core of the Middle East problem," and therefore "must not be ignored or marginalized."
Furthermore, Beijing considers that the economic development of the countries in the region is a central element to consolidate security. "The fundamental way to achieve lasting peace and stability in the Middle East is through development. China is willing to collaborate with all countries in the region to safeguard the security of international maritime routes, promote cooperation for development, facilitate the integration of interests among the countries in the region, and gradually strengthen mutual trust, thus eliminating conflict hotspots," the Chinese president stated.
Xi also called for strengthening international coordination in the Middle East, indicating that the United Nations Charter and International Law must serve as "basic guidelines" in managing regional affairs.
"The international community, especially the great powers outside the region, must abandon the double standard, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries in the region, and safeguard regional security and stability," he insisted, while calling for the United Nations to play a "truly effective role" in matters related to the Middle East.
Xi's words come in the context of his trip to Egypt, a visit that is interpreted as a move to reinforce Beijing's presence and influence in an area marked by the volatility generated by the war initiated by the United States and Israel last February in Iran.
From the Egyptian side, Al Sisi has described the visit of the Chinese leader as "historic" and has highlighted Cairo's efforts to promote diplomatic initiatives in the region, emphasizing that it is necessary to "prioritize diplomatic solutions to resolve crises in a way that contributes to achieving peace and supporting the development of the peoples of the region."
The Egyptian president has pointed out as central axes the de-escalation of tensions, respect for sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of the Gulf countries, and "guaranteeing freedom of navigation," in addition to protecting "the peoples from the negative consequences of the crisis."
In relation to the crisis in Gaza, Al Sisi has stressed the urgency of achieving a "just solution in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions," mentioning efforts to implement the commitments of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. He has also emphasized the importance of allowing "the entry of sufficient humanitarian aid into the Strip, especially medical equipment and supplies."