Barely days after Saudi monarch completed his maiden visit to China, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Beijing on Monday. The timing of both leaders visit appears to be more than conspicuous in the wake of China's growing interest in the Middle Eastern region.      

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Netanyahu was welcomed at the historic Great Hall of the People by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who openly praised Israel's tremendous advancements in the field of science and technology.  Li clubbed Jewish and Chinese people among "great peoples of the world."

Meanwhile, Netanyahu spoke about the "great deal of convulsion" going on in the rest of the world as well as in the Middle East region. He then sought China's full cooperation amid the existing socio-political challenges.    

"And I would like to have the opportunity to exchange views with you and to see how we can cooperate together for the advancement of security, peace and stability, and prosperity," he said.

The Israeli leader also claimed that LI conveyed him that China has no vested interest in the Palestinian issue and wants the conflict to be resolved according to the United Nation's resolution.

Traditionally, China has shown least interest in the Israel-Palestine conflict owing to its lukewarm Middle East foreign policy. It maintains very friendly and cordial ties with Israel as well as Palestine. However, China may show greater interest in the Israel-Palestine conflict in coming years given that its Middle Eastern foreign policy is going through a major revamp.  

Last year, Chinese President Xi Jingping took a very bold step in this direction by paying historic visit to several Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia. He, however, chose to leave Israel out of the tour itinerary.           

Traditionally, the Middle Eastern region has been fraught with violence and political tension due to decade-long Israel-Palestine conflict. Almost all Muslim countries in the region including Saudi Arabia do not share any diplomatic relation with Israel in protest of its continued occupation of Gaza Strip, West Bank and Jerusalem.            

TagsIsrael, Israel and China, Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Arabia, china