BEIJING — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan stressed the need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and ensuring adequate and unhindered access of aid to the besieged enclave. Addressing the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing on Thursday, Prince Faisal called for finding a reliable and irreversible path to a two-state solution for the Palestine issue. The Saudi foreign minister appreciated China's position of continuously supporting the initiatives to stop the war in Gaza as well as to achieve the implementation of the two-state solution. He underscored the need to ensure the Palestinian people's access to their inherent right to self-determination and the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant resolutions of international legitimacy. Prince Faisal highlighted the two decades of achievements since establishing the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum. He emphasized that the forum has served as a framework for cooperation between Arab countries and China based on mutual respect for sovereignty and independence. He also mentioned that the forum's programs and activities have been aligned with the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter that aimed to achieve peace, security, prosperity, and progress. The minister highlighted that hosting the first Arab-China Summit in 2022 and the successful visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Riyadh marked a historic turning point in the bilateral cooperation in political, economic, and social fields. This has elevated the collaboration to the levels of strategic partnership, aligning with the leadership's aspirations and the people's common interests. Prince Faisal emphasized the importance of strengthening and developing Arab-Chinese bilateral relations and cooperation. He stated that it is essential for everyone to engage in dialogue and consultation to resolve regional issues through political and peaceful means. He stressed the necessity of preserving the unity and territorial integrity of Arab countries, rejecting foreign interference, and continuing efforts to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction in the region to maintain security, stability, and national gains. The minister emphasized the importance of ongoing international efforts to combat climate change, to which Arab countries have contributed by developing national plans to address climate change. Prince Faisal noted that the Kingdom took the lead in proactively addressing the impacts of climate change through the launch of the Saudi Green Initiative and Middle East Green Initiative.
