China is keen to leverage the upcoming China-Indonesia Ministerial Dialogue to strengthen bilateral trust and cooperation, according to Lin Jian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at his press briefing on Friday.
On April 21, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun will chair the First Ministerial Meeting of the China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue in Beijing. Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono and Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin will attend the meeting in China. Taking the chance, China is willing to join hands with Indonesia to promote the bilateral relationship and enhance mutual trust, said Lin.
"China and Indonesia are old neighbors facing each other across the sea, and good partners with a shared future. This year marks the 75th anniversary of China and Indonesia's diplomatic ties. With the personal commitment of the leaders of the two countries, China and Indonesia established and initiated the Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue. This is the first such ministerial dialogue set up by China, reflecting the strategic and high-level cooperation between China and Indonesia. Last year, President Xi held two meetings with President Prabowo, and both leaders agreed to hold the first Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue at an early date. During the dialogue, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Minister of National Defense Dong Jun had exchanges of views with Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono and Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin on topics of bilateral relationships, political security, defense cooperation, and international regional cooperation between the two countries," said Lin. "China stands ready to work with Indonesia to follow the strategic guidance of the two presidents. The two countries should better leverage the important platform of the dialogue to promote friendship, mutual trust, and strategic coordination between the two countries, and bring it to new heights," said Lin.
China-Indonesia Ministerial Dialogue to promote mutual trust, strategic coordination: spokesman
Permanent representative of Israel to the United Nations (UN) Danny Danon on Thursday denied that any discussions had occurred between Israel and the UN regarding delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Danon made these remarks at the UN headquarters in response to a query from a China Central Television (CCTV) reporter about the ongoing failure to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Israel blocked the entry of goods and supplies into Gaza on March 2, following the end of the first phase of a January ceasefire deal with Hamas. It resumed attacks on Gaza on March 18.
With no food, no supplies, and no relief in sight, Gazans have been enduring a relentless fight for survival.
In response to mounting international condemnation, Israel has proposed that its military take over the distribution of aid - a move widely criticized by the international community.
Briefing a Security Council meeting on Tuesday, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher noted that the UN has met for over 12 times with the Israeli authorities regarding the latter's proposed aid distribution model, yet no solution had been found.
Danon, however, stated that no discussions have taken place in recent weeks regarding the issue.
"I don't know about that. Actually I listened to Mr. Fletcher's remarks at the Security Council the other day, and I can tell you that he visited Israel but he had no discussion about that fund because it was way back and in the last few weeks there was no dialogue about that. I would expect UN officials to engage when they want to speak about issues they know how to reach us, they know how to reach the U.S. mission. We are here to engage," he said.
"They got some information from the media, I assume. But I think they should look into that and to realize that if they want to be involved, that is the way to be involved," he added, reiterating that the UN has not reached out.
In response to Danon's denial, the United Nations reaffirmed its position, standing by the public statement released by Fletcher.
"I heard what he said, and we stand by what Mr. Fletcher has said," Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for UN Secretary-General noted later on the day, commenting on Danon's statement.
"Mr. Fletcher gave the details," he continued.
Israel envoy denies discussions with UN on enabling Gaza aid deliveries
