Li: Boost welfare of Palestine

China and Palestine should enhance cooperation in areas like trade, infrastructure, human resources and capacity building to help boost Palestine's economic development and improve its livelihood, Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday.

Li spoke as he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Peace and development serve as the premise of each other, Li said, and China is ready to deepen cooperation with the State of Palestine to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results from fully implementing existing cooperation in key areas through bilateral and multilateral dialogue and coordination.

Abbas is making a state visit to China from Monday to Thursday, and was received by President Xi Jinping on Tuesday.

Li said China, sharing deep friendship with Palestine, has been paying close attention to the Middle East peace process. He said China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people and their pursuit of restoring their legitimate national rights. Li said China is ready to continue to play an active role in international efforts in promoting negotiations toward a peaceful settlement.

Abbas expressed his gratitude and said Palestine is willing to keep high-level exchanges with China, and enhance cooperation in areas including industrial parks, clean energy and human resource training.

zhangyue@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 07/20/2017 page3)