Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embarks Sunday for a five-day trip to China as Beijing offered to broker a meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas who will visit the country at the same time.
During his trip, Netanyahu is expected to bring Israel’s perspectives on a slew of regional issues such as Iran and Syria to the Chinese new leaders, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang.
According to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli government officials said it was very unlikely that Netanyahu would meet in China with Abbas who is due to arrive in Beijing on Sunday and leave Tuesday evening, while Netanyahu will first be travelling to Shanghai, arriving in Beijing only on Wednesday.
Chinese media last week reported that the country’s special Middle East envoy Wu Sike was involved in efforts to help Israel and the Palestinians resume peace talks.
Wu Sike was in the region last week holding talks with Israeli and Palestinian officials prior to the visits this week.
When asked at a press conference Friday about a possible Netanyahu-Abbas meeting, a Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman said that “if the leaders of Palestine and Israel have the will to meet in China, China is willing to offer necessary assistance.”
One Israeli official said that while Netanyahu was “open to meeting Abbas at any time and in any place, it is not planned during this visit.”
China has up until now not played an active role in the Mideast peace process, though it has indicated an eagerness to join the Mideast negotiiating Quartet, made up of the US, Russia, the EU and the UN.
Netanyahu’s visit will also focus on economic issues as the premier will try to open doors for more Israel-China trade and economic cooperation.
Among other economic issues on the agenda will be the possibility of increasing direct flights from China to Israel as well as discussing China’s expected bid for the tender to build a high-speed rail line from Tel Aviv to Eilat.
Netanyahu spokesman Mark Regev said Israel and China had a “good relationship” and that it was hoped the visit “will serve as a vehicle to further the relationship – specifically to expand cooperation between the two countries.”