China, Palestine agree to establish strategic partnership

China and Palestine agreed on Wednesday to establish a strategic partnership. The announcement came as Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

It is Abbas's fifth official visit to China. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Palestine. The two countries called each other good friends and partners, and the two leaders on Wednesday vowed to advance bilateral friendship and cooperation in all areas.

China-Palestine relations have maintained a positive momentum of growth in recent years. In 2019, China and Palestine launched the first round of negotiations on a free trade zone.

Last December, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Belt and Road Initiative cooperation. Bilateral trade reached $158 million last year, with a year-on-year increase of 23.2 percent, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.