Chinese President Urges Israeli, Palestinian Leaders to 'Build Trust'

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to "build mutual trust" and resume dialogue, saying China wanted to promote peace in the Middle East.

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"We hope Israel and Palestine can work together, take feasible measures, gradually build mutual trust, restart the peace talks as soon as possible and make substantial progress," the Chinese Foreign Ministry quoted Xi as telling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"China will keep its objective and just stance, actively promote talks and [...] contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East," Xi said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas left Beijing on Tuesday after talks on Monday with Xi, who told Abbas China backed Palestinian statehood based on the 1967 boundaries.

Netanyahu arrived in Beijing on Wednesday after visiting Shanghai from Monday.

He met Premier Li Keqiang at Beijing's Great Hall of the People on Wednesday as the two sides signed several bilateral agreements covering technology, agriculture, finance and education.

Chinese state media said this week's visits of Abbas and Netanyahu emphasized China's "active involvement in Middle East affairs and highlighted its role as a responsible power."