For some time now, the situation in the Middle East has been declining. In particular, the COVID-19 outbreak has severely impacted countries in the region and caused numerous problems. China's special envoy to the Middle East emphasized China's statement during a press briefing on Friday. 

"China respects the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of countries in the region, and supports them in strengthening counter-terrorism and de-radicalization capabilities to prevent terrorist and extremist forces from spreading and jeopardizing regional and global security," Zhai Jun, China's special envoy to the Middle East, said on Friday. 

On Iran, Zhai said that China has always supported the complete and effective implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). "This is not only to protect Iran, but to safeguard the international non-proliferation regime and safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region," Zhai said.  

Regarding the Palestinian issue, Zhai stressed that China's position is consistent and clear. It has always firmly supported the Palestinian people in their path for restoration of their legitimate national rights and to establish an independent state. 

When it comes to Syria, Zhai noted China has always believed that Syria's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected and safeguarded, and the Syrian people have the right to decide the future of their own country. A complex 10-year civil war has left Syria devastated and divided. 

Looking back at 2020, vaccine cooperation has become the epitome of cooperation between China and countries in West Asia and North Africa. The Chinese government has recently delivered COVID-19 vaccines to Egypt, Algeria and the Arab League. Soon, China will also provide vaccine assistance to Iraq, Palestine, Syria and other countries in the region to support the resumption of work and industrial activities. 

In 2020, China's bilateral trade with countries in West Asia and North Africa will reach nearly $300 billion, making China the largest trading partner of countries in the region. China imported 259 million tons of crude oil from countries in the region, accounting for nearly half of China's total imports in the same period. 

On the Xinjiang issue, Zhai said the so-called "forced labor," "forced demolition of mosques," "forced birth control" and "genocide" are nothing but anti-China forces' tactics to interfere in China's internal affairs, which will never succeed. 

Last October, he said he visited Xinjiang with envoys from Arab countries in China and witnessed with his own eyes the stability, harmony and unity. 

Since 2018, more than 1,200 people, including UN officials, foreign diplomatic envoys to China, journalists and religious groups visited Xinjiang. The anti-terrorism and de-radicalization measures taken by Xinjiang are in full compliance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations in combating terrorism and safeguarding basic human rights, and have been widely recognized by the international community, including Arab and Islamic countries, Zhai stressed.