Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks to representatives of Arab League member states at a China Arab forum at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday pledged a package of $20 billion in loans, and about $106 million in financial aid, to Middle East nations, as part of what he called an "oil and gas plus" model to revive economic growth in the region.
Beijing has ramped up engagement in the Middle East in recent years as Arab nations play an important role in Xi's signature Belt and Road foreign policy plan for strong trade routes linking China with central and southeast Asia.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday pledged a package of $20 billion in loans and $1.6 billion in financial aid to countries in the Middle East, as part of what he called an "oil and gas plus" model to revive economic growth in the region.Beijing has ramped up engagement in the Middle East in recent years as Arab nations play an important role in Xi's signature Belt and Road foreign policy plan for strong trade routes linking China with central and southeast Asia.Development was key to resolving many security problems in the Middle East, Xi told a gathering with representatives of 21 Arab nations in the Chinese capital."We should treat each other frankly, not fear differences, not avoid problems, and have ample discussion on each aspect of foreign policy and development strategy," he said.Israel imposes fresh sanctions on blockaded GazaChina would offer aid worth 1 billion yuan ($150 million) to Palestine to support economic development, besides providing a further 600 million to Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, he added.A consortium of banks from China and Arab nations, with a dedicated fund of $3 billion will also be set up, he said.It was unclear what the relationship between the bank consortium, financial aid and the overall loan package would be.The loans will fund a plan of "economic reconstruction" and "industrial revival" that would include cooperation on oil and gas, nuclear and clean energy, Xi said.Israel says closing Gaza's main trade terminal in anti-Hamas crackdownHe urged "relevant sides" to respect the international consensus in the Israel-Palestine dispute, and called for it to be handled in a just manner, so as to avoid regional disruption.China, which traditionally played little role in the Middle East conflicts or diplomacy, despite its reliance on the region for energy supplies, has been trying to get more involved in resolving long-standing disputes.China says it sticks to a policy of "non-interference" when offering financial aid and deals to developing countries, which, coupled with development, can help resolve political, religious and cultural tension.It applies this pattern of economic support, as well as a strict security regime, to its restive western region of Xinjiang. But rights groups have criticised the approach, saying the clampdown has further stoked, not eased, tension between the Muslim Uighur minority and the ethnic Han majority.
China to offer aid of $15 mln to Palestine
Development was key to resolving many security problems in the Middle East, Xi told a gathering with representatives of 21 Arab nations in the Chinese capital.
"We should treat each other frankly, not fear differences, not avoid problems, and have ample discussion on each aspect of foreign policy and development strategy," he said.
China would offer aid worth 100 million yuan ($15 million) to Palestine to support economic development, besides providing a further 600 million yuan ($91 million) to Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, he added.
A consortium of banks from China and Arab nations, with a dedicated fund of $3 billion, will also be set up, he said.
China's northeastern rustbelt province of Liaoning is studying ways to reverse its declining population and could offer financial incentives to encourage couples to have more children, the official China Daily newspaper said on Tuesday.Liaoning has struggled to reverse its long-term economic decline and its workforce has been shrinking and ageing rapidly despite a 15-year campaign from the central government to "rejuvenate the northeast".Once one of China's most prosperous provinces, Liaoning's gross domestic product rose 4.2 percent last year, lagging the national growth rate of 6.9 percent. Provincial GDP shrank 2.5 percent in 2016.The China Daily, citing Liaoning's economic planning agency, said the province was looking into providing tax, education, social security and housing incentives for couples that decide to have more children. It would also offer extended maternity leave and more flexible working hours, the report said.The total number of registered permanent residents in Liaoning stood at 43.69 million by the end of last year, down from 43.78 million at the end of 2016, according to official data.An official study published last week showed that Liaoning's elderly population grew 3.62 percent in 2017. The percentage of its population aged 60 or older stood at 22.65 percent, 5.35 percentage points higher than the national figure.
Chinese province considers incentives for couples to have more children
It was unclear what the relationship between the bank consortium, financial aid and the overall loan package would be.
The loans will fund a plan of "economic reconstruction" and "industrial revival" that would include cooperation on oil and gas, nuclear and clean energy, Xi said.
He urged "relevant sides" to respect the international consensus in the Israel-Palestine dispute, and called for it to be handled in a just manner, so as to avoid regional disruption.
China, which traditionally played little role in the Middle East conflicts or diplomacy, despite its reliance on the region for energy supplies, has been trying to get more involved in resolving long-standing disputes.
China says it sticks to a policy of "non-interference" when offering financial aid and deals to developing countries, which, coupled with development, can help resolve political, religious and cultural tension.
It applies this pattern of economic support, as well as a strict security regime, to its restive western region of Xinjiang. But rights groups have criticised the approach, saying the clampdown has further stoked, not eased, tension between the Muslim Uighur minority and the ethnic Han majority.