China says Hamas, Fatah signed ‘Beijing Declaration’ on Palestinian unity

China did not immediately release the text of what it called the “Beijing Declaration” or the full list of Palestinian leaders who participated in the talks hosted by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

In a speech after the talks, Wang called the meeting “a historic moment for the cause of Palestinian liberation.”

“The highlight is the consensus around establishing an interim government of national reconciliation to manage Gaza after the war,” Wang said.

He reaffirmed China’s support for a “comprehensive, comprehensive and lasting ceasefire” and the convening of a major “international peace conference” to work toward a two-state solution.

Photos taken during the talks show Wang Yi talking with Mahmoud al-Aloul, deputy chairman of Fatah’s central committee, and Mussa Abu Marzuk, a senior Hamas official. Wang Yi said the ambassadors of Egypt, Russia and Algeria were also present at the meetings.

A previous attempt by Beijing to negotiate in April ended without a joint statement, but the talks nonetheless help the Chinese Communist Party present itself as an international mediator at a time of intense rivalry with the United States, including in diplomacy.

Last year, Beijing brokered a detente between Iran and Saudi Arabia, forcing Washington into the awkward position of cheering a major Middle East deal brokered by its main geopolitical rival. Beijing has also tried to portray itself as a mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, promoting a 12-point proposal to end it.

In June, Chinese diplomats refused to participate in Swiss-hosted negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, saying the meeting was politically motivated and would be meaningless without Russia’s presence. Beijing and Brazil instead proposed a separate agenda to reach a negotiated settlement.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba will arrive in Beijing on Tuesday for talks with his Chinese counterpart, during which he hopes to enlist China’s support in ending Russian aggression.