Representatives from the Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have begun talks in Cairo to discuss forming a committee to manage the affairs of the Gaza Strip, Egypt's State Information Service said on Saturday, citing an Egyptian security official.
The committee will be established by presidential decree from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the official said, adding that it will include independent figures.
According to the security official, the Egyptian-sponsored meeting aims to achieve Palestinian unity and prevent the separation of the West Bank from the Gaza Strip.
He added that Hamas insists on addressing all issues related to the conflict comprehensively, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the prisoner exchange, and the entry of humanitarian aid. Hamas fears that if these issues are handled separately, Israel may resume its attacks on Gaza after securing the release of Israeli hostages.
The official affirmed that Egypt is making intensive efforts to resume negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire, which have been suspended since July, adding that Cairo continues to work with Palestinian and Israeli parties to secure a truce and facilitate increased humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Fatah, Hamas hold talks in Cairo over post-war Gaza governance: source
China's vast imports and exports foster global connections, economic growth and cultural exchange, said a UN official in Shanghai on Tuesday.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum, Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), said that China's international trade impacts the developing world, enabling economic diversification and a more close-knit global community.
"China is one of the world's largest economies and consumer markets and by far the largest exporter. How and what China exports and how and what China imports can have dramatic effects in places even very far from its shores. China's imports and exports have also an important impact in the Global South and the opportunities of trade to diversify their economic structures," said the official.
"Seen from the perspective of the small enterprise or the individual merchant, trade sometimes may seem trivial. In aggregate however, trade is a force of nature. When countries engage in trade, they unlock a cascade of positive effects: ideas exchange, structural transformation, cultural understanding," she said.
Grynspan sent her wishes to the expo, noting that the CIIE promotes global business connections and partnerships, and a prosperous and interconnected economy.
"This expo embodies exactly that message with a spirit of openness where businesses worldwide can connect, forge partnerships and contribute to a more prosperous and interconnected global economy. As I close, it is very good to see so many countries participating in this year's expo. May your participation be a big success leading to new partnerships, more trade and a brighter future for all," she said.
The CIIE is the world's first national-level exposition dedicated to imports. This year's expo is scheduled to run from November 5 to 10.
The seventh CIIE has attracted participants from 152 countries, regions and international organizations, and achieved a new record with 297 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders to attend.
At the ongoing CIIE, over 400 new products, technologies and services from around the world are being showcased, spanning sectors such as artificial intelligence, new materials, autonomous systems and energy transition technologies.
Trade with China fosters global connections, economic growth: UNCTAD head
