China signals willingness to boost Israel ties despite strains from Gaza conflict

Yahoo

16-02-2025

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said the country is still willing to work with Israel to improve ties.
Wang made comments in a meeting with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, the highest-level direct talks between the two sides since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.
The war, which began after the Hamas attack on Israel, has put relations under strain with China condemning Israel's actions and expressing its support for the Palestinian cause and a two-state solution - something Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected.
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China, however, has maintained close economic ties with Israel since its founding and Israel is among the few developed economies that has taken part in China's Belt and Road Initiative, a transcontinental infrastructure project.
According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Wang hailed the long friendship between the Chinese and Jewish people, in particular their mutual help during World War II.
"China always views the development of China-Israel relations from a long-term perspective and is willing to work with Israel to advance the development of the China-Israel innovative comprehensive partnership," Wang said.
The partnership agreement, signed in 2017, was the second one of its kind following a similar deal with Switzerland, and saw the two sides agree to expand technology and trade ties, while Beijing also agreed to invest in Israeli infrastructure.
On Saturday, Wang called for a lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and said he hoped for an "effective implementation" of the current arrangements, in which Israel and Hamas agreed to exchange hostages.
He also said: "China is willing to continue to uphold justice and play a constructive role in the comprehensive and thorough resolution of the Palestinian issue."
Saar, in a statement cited by the Times of Israel, urged Beijing to adopt a "balanced" policy in the region and stressed the need for economic pressure on Iran.
Wang spoke to then-Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi by phone in October last year and called for a de-escalation in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, the Tehran-backed Lebanese militia.
Pan Guang, a specialist in Middle East and Jewish affairs at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said the meeting allowed China to clarify its position on Gaza and signalled that both countries were willing to revive cooperation.
"China is very happy to see a Gaza ceasefire ... especially its businesspeople," Pan said. "There is so much that could be done following a ceasefire."
He added that China's embassy in Israel was already planning events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war this year.
The Gaza conflict disrupted Chinese shipping routes to Europe when vessels came under attack from Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, forcing costly diversions.
The conflict has killed more than 46,000 Palestinians and 1,700 Israelis.
This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
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