On Thursday 15th July, the Chinese Foreign Ministry convened a Palestinian-Israeli Peace Conference. The heads of the Geneva Initiative, Gadi Baltiansky and Nidal Foqaha, participated in the event alongside PLO official and minister, Ahmed Majdalani, co-Chair of the GI Yossi Beilin together with other Israeli and Palestinian former officials and civil society leaders.
Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi addressed the event and reaffirmed his commitment to the two-state solution as the only viable way to resolve the conflict and mentioned that China is happy to host representatives from both sides to conduct negotiations. Recognizing the indispensability of local efforts in contributing to improving conditions on the ground, FM Wang Yi acknowledge the need to expand the role of the Israeli and Palestinian peace camp and said:
“China supports the Geneva Initiative in playing a greater role, and stands ready to provide assistance and engage in cooperation…we will continue to invite young people from Palestine and Israel to China for exchanges and dialogues to sow the seeds of hope.”
The event was widely covered in the local and international media.
You can read the FM’s full statement here.
You can read the GI’s press release here.
