Covenant With Many

China's Xi pledges support to Palestine, two-state solution - UPI.com
UPI reports: "China supports a two-state solution in the Middle East and full sovereignty for Palestine, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced Tuesday. His remarks came as he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing. Abbas is on a four-day trip to China. China recognizes Palestine as a sovereign state, calling for Palestinian independence, with recognition of borders mandated in 1967 and a capital in East Jerusalem. The two leaders signed economic, technical, cultural and capacity-building cooperation agreements."

Comment: What is the leader of China doing getting mixed up in Middle East affairs, you ask? Over the last few years China has a emerged as a major trade partner for several Mideast countries, including Israel, with important trade relationships focused primarily on energy. China has also been building a modern version of the ancient "Silk Road" that will promote trade and development across the region. China, as unlikely as it seems, is on the way to becoming one of the important players in Mideast affairs.