RAMALLAH, December 18, 2013 (WAFA) – Palestinian-Chinese relations are stronger than ever in spite of the changes worldwide, said China’s ambassador to Palestine Liu Aizhong.

In an exclusive interview with WAFA on the occasion of the 25 anniversary for the establishment of the Palestinian-Chinese relationship, Aizhong said this relationship was started by the late Chinese leader Mao Tse-tung and the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in the 1960s and strengthened following the opening of the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s (PLO) office in 1965 in China.

He said the common struggle of the Palestinian and Chinese people against colonization has brought them closer together.

Official Palestinian-Chinese relations started on November 20, 1988 shortly after the Palestinian declaration of independence.

Following the United Nations recognition of the State of Palestine as non-member state on November 29 of last year, the PLO’s office became the Embassy of Palestine.

Aizhong said the visit by President Mahmoud Abbas to China in May was successful and that it renewed the Palestinian-Chinese relations. He indicated that Abbas was the first president received by the new Chinese president, Xi Jinping.

Answering a question about the impact the Chinese-American rapprochement on Chinese-Israeli relations, Aizhong said China has and is committed to diplomatic relations with Palestine as well as Israel, stressing that its ties with Israel will not impact its friendship with Palestine.

He said the visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to the region aims at reinforcing the Chinese-Palestinian relations and to discuss the issues of mutual concern.

It also aims to reinforce the four-point Chinese vision regarding the question of Palestine put forward by the Chinese president while Abbas was in China, to clarify the position of China on the question of Palestine and to put forward new ideas in this respect.

Aizhong expressed his absolute confidence that this visit would have a positive impact on developing and reinforcing the Palestinian-Chinese relations, indicating that the Palestinian issue is a concern not only for the stability and prosperity of Palestine but also for that of the whole region.

He stressed that China is interested in pursuing efforts to advance the peace process within the framework of the UN.

K.F./M.S.