The upcoming foreign ministers' meeting of China and five Central Asian countries will focus on advancing China-Central Asia cooperation and other issues, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will attend the Sixth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers' Meeting and hold the Second China-Kazakhstan Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue in Kazakhstan, and attend the Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs/International Relations and the 15th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in Brazil from April 25 to 30, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"In recent years, China's relations with Central Asian countries have made rapid headway, with deepening and solidifying cooperation across the board. Foreign ministers of these countries will gather in Almaty to have an in-depth exchange of views on cooperation between China and Central Asian countries, deepening the building of the China-Central Asia mechanism, and other issues of mutual interest. The top priority of the meeting is to make full political preparations for the second China-Central Asia Summit to make it a success," Guo said.
"This meeting is held in a world fraught with changes, turbulence and the U.S.'s tariff tsunami which deals a blow to the world economic order. Through this meeting, China stands ready to deepen political mutual trust with the five Central Asian countries, consolidate mutual support, keep the region stable, jointly defend international fairness and justice, and practice true multilateralism," Guo said.
Spokesman on China-Central Asia foreign ministers' meeting
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
