Chinese enterprises are expanding overseas rapidly and on a large scale, but many of these projects are seeing poor returns. China Mobile Communications Corporation (CMCC), for example has invested in six major overseas projects since 2005. But according to data from the National Audit Office, among these projects three have suffered losses altogether totaling nearly 3.2 billion yuan. Why do so many of these projects fail to take off? How [...]

Beijing is willing and able to help reengage deadlocked peace talks between Israel and Palestine Beijing rolled out the red carpet for the leaders of two long-standing foes in early May. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas conducted his three-day visit to China on May 5, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Shanghai one day later for his five-day visit. Although no specific result in terms of the peaceful talk [...]

Geographically, China and the Middle East seem to be far apart, but they have much in common. Both are cradles of great civilizations and share similar traditional values. Over the centuries there have been extensive cultural and commercial exchanges, not least along the Silk Route. The Middle East has been burdened with unresolved history, in particular the Palestinian question. But the peoples and nations in the region want peace, and [...]

The President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, arrived in China on May 5, one days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The relationship between China and Palestine is traditionally strong. Before his visit to China, Abbas said that political issues would top his agenda, and China responded positively. During the visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping presented a four-point proposal, which called for an independent Palestinian state and the resumption [...]

The ongoing visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to China is expected to inject new vitality into the two countries’ bilateral pragmatic cooperation, in fields such as trade and science, and deepen mutual trust. After holding substantial talks with Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday, Netanyahu met President Xi Jinping on Thursday. Xi suggested the two countries plan well for the future of their relations and deepen mutual understanding. Both [...]

It is disturbing that the Syria issue continues to go from bad to worse and is becoming increasingly complicated. Israel’s air strikes on Syria should again sound the alarm to the international community about the dangers of the crisis spreading, while the testimony gathered by the United Nations’ human rights investigators suggests that the Syrian rebel forces have used the nerve gas sarin, which, if confirmed, means the conflict is [...]

The almost simultaneous visits to China by Palestinian President Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu caused world attention and speculation. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Abbas in Beijing on Monday and Netanyahu arrived in Shanghai on the same day for his five-day visit to China. Analysts think how China will promote the resumption of peace talks is the focus of the parties concerned. China’s attitude towards the Palestinian-Israeli [...]

China is hosting this week the leaders of both Palestine and Israel, as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was welcomed in Beijing on Monday followed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit later in the week. Although China used to keep a low profile in Middle East diplomacy, it has maintained good relationships with both Israel and Palestine. The relationship with Palestine has traditionally been a profound one. By inviting two [...]

In a recent statistical exercise, I read all the Chinese articles published over the course of two different periods, 1992-94, and 2010-12, on the topic of the Israel-Palestine conflict. These include scholarly articles published in peer-reviewed academic journals, travelogues, and opinions published in reputable newspapers and magazines. I noted whether each article was neutral, pro-Israel, or pro-Palestine. And I found that compared to two decades ago, the number of pro-Palestine [...]

In his meeting with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday, President Xi Jinping presented a four-point proposal to resolve the Palestine issue. Xi’s proposal is China’s latest effort to break the stalemate in the Middle East peace process. Premier Li Keqiang also met Abbas on Monday afternoon, pledging China’s support to the just cause of Palestinians. Abbas, who arrived on Sunday for a three-day state visit, is the first [...]