Xi offers development as 'new path' to resolve Middle East crises

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, Jan 21, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

CAIRO - Experts say that Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech at the Arab League offered development as "a new path" to resolve Middle East crises and promote regional stability.

"The key to overcoming difficulties is to accelerate development," Xi said in his speech at the Arab League Thursday, stressing that turmoil in the Middle East stems from the lack of development, and the ultimate solution will depend on development.

"There are ongoing attempts of polarization now in the international arena and revival of the cold war atmosphere, but China now provides what we can describe as 'a third path' highlighting development as a vast environment to promote regional stability," Ahmed Eliba, a researcher at the Cairo-based Regional Center for Strategic Studies, told Xinhua.

The expert said that China's vision on the Middle East seeks peace and security through development and balanced political relations that are based on mutual interests.

Eliba stressed the significance of the link between development and dialogue as integral parts of the peacemaking process. "Xi offers an important strategic view, just like thinking outside the box, to get the Arab states out of the dark tunnels of conflicts through development," Eliba said.

The Middle East region is suffering conflicts in Palestine, Syria, Libya, Yemen and Iraq that have killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced many others.

"I believe Xi's strategic vision is really important as it could spare the region the cost of lives and funds and provides main points to resolve the ongoing crises," Eliba said.

In his speech at the Cairo-based Arab League, President Xi offered millions of U.S. dollars in assistance to the Arab people suffering conflicts and wars.

He said that China supports the Arab world to solve its problems on its own through development and dialogue, adding that the process of dialogue might be long but will yield most sustainable results.

"There is hope in the Middle East, and all parties should look for it by pursuing dialogue and development," Xi said.

"Xi is trying to convey to the Arab states the Chinese experience of resolving issues through development. According to the Chinese vision, whether the issues are related to economic problems, education, poverty or terrorism, the only guaranteed way to resolve them is through development," said Sobhy Essila, an expert at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies.