In a recent meeting China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the importance of peace and negotiation in achieving stability in the Middle East during a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in Beijing on Friday.
The two diplomats met at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, concluding a two-day strategic dialogue. Both nations have expressed deep concern over the ongoing crisis in Syria and underscored the need to respect the country’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
“The two sides are deeply concerned about the current situation in Syria and urge respect for its sovereignty,” Wang said, adding that steps must be taken to prevent terrorist and extremist groups from exploiting the ongoing chaos.
Wang also welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon, marking it as a positive development towards regional peace.
The discussions come against the backdrop of significant shifts in Syria, where ousted President Bashar al-Assad fled following a swift offensive led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group. Assad’s departure ends nearly five decades of authoritarian rule by his family, a period marked by the suppression of dissent, mass incarcerations, and a civil war that claimed over 500,000 lives and displaced millions.
Wang reiterated that Beijing and Cairo are committed to fostering peace through dialogue. “We agreed to work together to promote peace and negotiations to achieve stability in the Middle East,” he stated.
The meeting highlighted the shared goals of China and Egypt in addressing regional conflicts and supporting diplomatic efforts to pave the way for stability and reconciliation.
