China's Xi Advocates For Middle East Peace Conference

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called for a peace conference to end the war between Israel and Hamas.

He made this call while addressing Arab leaders at a forum aimed at bolstering ties with the region.

Xi is this week hosting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and several other Arab leaders.

China as positioned itself as a more neutral actor on the Israel-Palestinian conflict advocating for a two-state solution while also maintaining good ties with Israel.

China has pointed to the Middle East as a key node in its Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, a central pillar of Xi's bid to expand his country's clout overseas.

Addressing delegates, Xi expressed support for a "broad-based" peace conference to resolve the Israel-Hamas conflict.

"The Middle East is a land bestowed with broad prospects for development, but the war is still raging on it," Xi said.

Egypt's Sisi urged the international community to ensure Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are not displaced from their war-ravaged territory.

"I call on the international community to immediately provide for long-term humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip and to end the Israeli siege," Sisi said.

China has advocated for decades for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

State media has reported that 21 Arab nations have signed cooperation agreements with Beijing as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

"China will further enhance strategic cooperation with the Arab side on oil and gas, and integrate supply security with market security," Xi said.

Analysts say China is seeking to leverage the war in Gaza to boost its standing in the region, framing its efforts to end that conflict against perceived US inaction.