China’s top diplomat met with foreign ministers from Arab and Muslim-majority nations on Monday, saying Beijing would work with “our brothers and sisters” in the Arab and Islamic world to try to end the war in Gaza as soon as possible.
The ministers from Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Jordan, and Indonesia are visiting permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and chose China as their first stop. The choice arguably reflects Beijing’s growing diplomatic presence in the Arab world and its vocal support for the Palestinians.