BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) - Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that the Palestine question has always been the core issue in the Middle East region, and China supports the "two-state solution" as the right direction.

During his phone talk with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Xi, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, expressed sincere condolence and firm support to the Palestinian government and people in their fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

Xi said China and Palestine are good brothers, good friends and good partners, and the two sides have always firmly trusted and supported each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns.

Since the start of the outbreak, China has provided multiple batches of supplies and sent medical experts to Palestine, organized video conferences between Chinese medical experts and their Palestinian counterparts, and offered anti-epidemic assistance to Palestinian refugees, Xi said.

The Chinese side will continue sharing its experience with Palestine with no reservation, and doing what it can in providing material and technical support, said Xi, adding that his country will, according to Palestine's needs, keep on implementing the projects that are conducive to advancing Palestine's economy and improving people's livelihood so as to bring more and better benefits to the Palestinian people.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="900"] Members of a Chinese medical team visit a health center that belonged to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) at the Al-Amari refugee camp in the West Bank city of Ramallah, June 15, 2020.  (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)[/caption]

China is ready to work with Palestine and other countries to strengthen cooperation, support multilateralism, and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, he said.

Xi emphasized that the Palestine question, which has always been the core issue in the Middle East, concerns regional peace and stability, international fairness and justice, as well as human conscience and credibility, saying that China's position on the Palestine question is consistent and clear .

China firmly supports Palestine's just demands, as well as all efforts conducive to resolving the Palestine question, Xi said.

China supports the "two-state solution" as the right direction, and sticks to dialogue and negotiations on an equal footing, Xi said, adding that the international community should take an objective and fair position and build up efforts for promoting peace.

He also said that China is ready to continue making active contributions to a comprehensive, fair and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question at an early date.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="899"] Palestinians wearing face masks attend a mass rally organized by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Movement to protest against Israel's annexation plans in the West Bank town of Jericho on June 22, 2020. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)[/caption]

Abbas said that the Palestinian side speaks highly of China's important achievements in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak, and sincerely thanks China for providing timely and invaluable support and assistance to Palestine in its epidemic battle.

He also appreciated China's efforts to uphold justice on the Palestinian issue, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the Palestinian people, saying that facts have proved time and again that China is the most reliable friend of the Palestinian people.

The Palestinian side will continue to stand firmly with China, and support China's legitimate position on Hong Kong, Xinjiang and other matters concerning China's core interests, said Abbas, adding that his country expects China to play a more important role in promoting a just settlement of the Palestinian issue.  ■