STORY: Turkish expert hails China's active role in Middle East peace process
SHOOTING TIME: July 23, 2024
DATELINE: July 26, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:00
LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Beijing
2. various of Gaza
3. various of Istanbul
4. SOUNDBITE (Turkish): BARIS DOSTER, Academic at Istanbul-based Marmara University

STORYLINE:

At China's invitation, senior representatives of 14 Palestinian factions held reconciliation talks in Beijing on July 21-23, signing the Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity.

In an interview with Xinhua, Baris Doster, an academic at Istanbul-based Marmara University, spoke highly of China's active role in the Middle East peace process.

SOUNDBITE (Turkish): BARIS DOSTER, Academic at Istanbul-based Marmara University
"Indeed, this is significant both from the Middle East's perspective and China's own diplomatic initiatives and strategies.
This underscores China's growing diplomatic prowess and its increasingly respected and influential role in the Middle East and Islamic regions, demonstrating its capability to generate effective solutions.
Now, achieving peace among these groups, stemming from the same roots but diverging and splitting over time, sometimes escalating to armed conflicts among themselves, especially these two groups (Hamas and Fatah), is very valuable.
It is not something Egypt has achieved, nor Türkiye, Qatar, Kuwait or Iran. It is significant that the People's Republic of China has managed to facilitate this peace. It is indeed highly significant that under China's facilitation, moderation, and hosting in Beijing, a declaration was signed among these 14 groups, primarily including Fatah and Hamas, aimed at addressing their differences and divisions to promote unity and collaboration.
It is important from China's perspective, as well as for these groups, the Islamic world, and the broader context."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul, Türkiye.
(XHTV)