Egypt, China reject forced displacement of Palestinians, urge intl. community to ensure aid delivery to Gaza

CAIRO – 14 January 2024: Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi have voiced categorical rejection of the forced transfer or displacement of the Palestinian people amid the ongoing Israeli operations in Gaza.

In a meeting in Cairo on Sunday, Sisi and Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, stressed their two countries’ stances regarding the necessity to adhere to the international law, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement.

They highlighted the need for addressing the roots of the ongoing crisis through a fair and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian cause based on the two-state solution by establishing a Palestinian state in line with the international legitimacy resolutions.

Sisi affirmed to Wang the necessity of implementing a ceasefire in Gaza to protect civilians and safe them from the disastrous humanitarian situation they are facing. He also called for defusing tensions in the region and evading factors that fuel regional stability. Wang voiced support to the Egyptian position in this regard, hailing Egypt’s political and humanitarian role in this regard.

The discussions also highlighted the historical and humanitarian responsibility that Egypt has shouldered to mobilize and receive humanitarian aid from around the world, delivering this aid to people in Gaza despite obstacles in full coordination with the United Nations and the international community. Additionally, the meeting highlighted the Egyptian aid provided by the government and people, which has constituted the vast majority of the aid delivered to the strip. The meeting underscored the need for the international community to shoulder its responsibility in ensuring the delivery of aid to Gaza in line with the resolutions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly.

During the meeting, Wang delivered a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping, congratulating Sisi on his re-election and voicing continued support to the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. The message also praised the Egyptian role in consolidating security, stability, and development in the Middle East.

For his part, Sisi expressed gratitude to the Chinese president, hailing the Egyptian-Chinese relations, which are based on the principles of mutual respect and joint interests. Sisi affirmed Egypt’s support to the one-China principle and its keenness to continue coordination with China to enhance international security and stability.

Furthermore, Sisi and Wang discussed means of joint cooperation, affirming the two countries’ determination to continue the implementation of their joint economic development projects on the bilateral level and within the BRICS group and the Belt and Road Initiative.