On May 6, 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Great Hall of the People. Xi Jinping made a four-point proposal for the settlement of the Palestinian question, stressing that China firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people and is willing to work with Palestine to carry forward the friendly cooperation between China and Palestine.

Xi Jinping said that over the past half century or more, the Chinese and Palestinian people have always offered mutual understanding, trust and support to each other and remain good friends, good partners and good brothers. China-Palestine relations have continued to achieve new development. China will continue to provide help within its ability to Palestine's development, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the fields of agriculture, investment, infrastructure construction, culture, education and political parties, and write a new chapter in the Sino-Palestinian friendship.

The Palestine issue is the core of the Middle East issue, Xi pointed out. "The issue, already lasting more than half a century, has brought deep suffering to the Palestinian people and remains an important reason of extended turbulence in the Middle East region," he said. So long as the legitimate national rights and interests of the Palestinian people can not be restored, peace between Palestine and Israel would not be realized, "let alone peace and stability in the region." He stressed that the Palestinian issue "should not be neglected at anytime and must be put in an important and noteworthy position."

President Xi made a four-point proposal.

First, the right direction to follow should be an independent Palestinian State and peaceful co-existence of Palestine and Israel. To establish an independent state enjoying full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital is an inalienable right of the Palestinian people and the key to the settlement of the Palestinian question. At the same time, Israel's right to exist and its legitimate security concerns should also be fully respected.

Second, negotiation should be taken as the only way to peace between Palestine and Israel. The two sides should follow the trend of the times, pursue peace talks, show mutual understanding and accommodation, and meet each other half way. The immediate priority is to take credible steps to stop settlement activities, end violence against innocent civilians, lift the blockade of the Gaza Strip and properly handle the issue of Palestinian prisoners in order to create the necessary conditions for the resumption of peace talks. Comprehensive internal reconciliation on the part of Palestine will help restart and advance the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.

Third, principles such as "land for peace" should be firmly upheld. The parties concerned ought to build on the existing achievements that include the principle of "land for peace," the relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative to advance the Middle East peace process across the board.

Fourth, the international community should provide important guarantee for progress in the peace process. Relevant parties of the international community should have a greater sense of responsibility and urgency, take an objective and fair position, make vigorous efforts to encourage talks for peace, and increase assistance to Palestine in such fields as human resources training and economic development.

Xi reiterated that Chinese people's support to Palestinian people "is sincere and hearty." China will, as always, support the just cause of the Palestinian people, he said. "Despite turns and twists in peace talks between Palestine and Israel, we believe that the dream of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state can come true provided you hold the general direction of peace and make unremitting efforts," he told Abbas.

Abbas said that Palestine-China friendship is profound and the friendly relations between the two countries have been constantly consolidated and developed. The Palestinian side thanks for China's long-term support and help, and hopes both sides will deepen political mutual understanding and support. Palestine also hopes to strengthen economic and trade cooperation with China and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in the country.

While introducing Palestine-Israel relations and the peace talks between the two sides, the Palestinian president stressed that a political solution "remains the best and only way out." He added that his country adhered to such an option. Palestine seeks to realize the peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel through peace talks on the basis of a two-state solution, he said. Abbas also urged Israel to observe international pacts, halt settlement building so as to create conditions for resumption of the peace talks. Palestine is also committed to internal reconciliation and solidarity, he said. He spoke highly of China's just position on the Palestinian issue and hoped China will continue to play its part in the process.

After the talks, the two heads of state jointly attended the signing ceremony of the economic and technological cooperation agreement and the cooperation document on culture and education between the two governments.

Prior to the talks, Xi held a welcome ceremony for Abbas at the Square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People. Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Qiangba Puncog, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, Vice Chair of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Lin Wenyi and Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of China Democratic National Construction Association Wu Xiaoqing attended the ceremony.