Xi puts forward 4-point proposal on promoting Middle East peace, stability

China

Xi puts forward 4-point proposal on promoting Middle East peace, stability

2026-04-14 14:32 Last Updated At：04-15 01:07

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday put forward a four-point proposal on promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, when meeting with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), in Beijing.

Xi said at the meeting that the UAE is China's comprehensive strategic partner, and China attaches great importance to growing bilateral ties, noting that with efforts from both sides, China and the UAE have maintained healthy and stable development of ties with continuously deepening political mutual trust, steadily advancing practical cooperation, and rich and colorful people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

Xi said that consolidating and lifting China-UAE relations is a firm consensus between the two countries and meets the expectations of their people, and that China stands ready to join hands with the UAE in building a more solid, resilient and dynamic China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership. Xi called on both sides to continue to support each other on issues that bear on each other's core interests and major concerns, maintain high-level exchanges, and cement strategic mutual trust, while forming greater synergy of development strategies, exploring potential and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as energy, investment, trade, and science and technology, promoting cooperation in education, civil aviation, tourism and other fields, and enhancing people-to-people and cultural exchanges to consolidate public support.

Xi called for further efforts from both sides to boost coordination and cooperation on multilateral platforms including the United Nations and BRICS, respond to uncertainties in international and regional situations by maintaining the stability of China-UAE relations, and jointly promote the building a community with a shared future for humanity.

The two sides exchanged views on current situations in the Middle East and the Gulf region. Xi stressed China's principled position of promoting talks for peace, and reiterated that China will continue to play a constructive role in this regard.

Xi put forward a four-point proposal on promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.

Xi called for adherence to the principle of peaceful coexistence. It is imperative to promote the building of a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security architecture for the Middle East and the Gulf region, he noted.

He urged adherence to the principle of national sovereignty. He said the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region should be fully respected, and the safety of personnel, facilities and institutions of all countries should be effectively safeguarded.

On adherence to the principle of international rule of law, Xi said the authority of international rule of law should be upheld to prevent the world from falling back into the law of the jungle.

Xi said development and security should be coordinated. All parties should work together to create a favorable environment for the development of countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region.

For his part, Sheikh Khaled said that the UAE-China relations have a long history and a profound and solid foundation, noting that the two countries have always respected and trusted each other, and shared extensive common interests. He said his country attaches great importance to developing relations with China, and is willing to work with China to thoroughly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, deepen cooperation in various fields, open up broader prospects for bilateral relations and bring benefits to the people of both countries.

Sheikh Khaled said the UAE appreciates China's responsible and constructive role in international affairs and its positive efforts for the political settlement of the current Middle East crisis. He said the UAE stays committed to maintaining close communication and coordination with the Chinese side, and promoting ceasefire among relevant parties, so as to restore regional peace and stability as soon as possible, safeguard the security of international shipping, and prevent larger impacts on global economic and energy security. Sheikh Khaled said the UAE will earnestly protect the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in the country.

One-legged stork finds feet again after being fitted with custom prosthetic leg

A one-legged oriental white stork has managed to find its footing again after a custom-built prosthetic was fitted at a wildlife rescue center in north China. Staff there are now assessing whether this unique bionic bird is ready to be released back into the wild.

The stork was brought to the Sunshine Wildlife Rescue and Shelter Center in Tianjin Municipality back in 2024 with a severe injury after its left leg became entangled in netting. A resulting infection was so serious that amputation was required.

While staff at the center slowly nursed the bird back to health, it was initially determined that it would be unable to survive in the wild on a single leg. To change its future, the team searched for a solution that would eventually allow it to return to nature.

Last year, staff began experimenting with prosthetic designs, testing a range of materials including carbon fiber, plastic, and rubber. Each attempt improved the outcome, but the key challenge was developing a suitable “shock absorber” to make the prosthesis feel more natural to the stork and help it fully restore its movement.

Oriental white storks typically land and step with the front of the foot first, and walking naturally requires a strong upward rebound. To deal with this, the latest prosthetic developed by the teams incorporated a mechanical component to allow for finer adjustments while providing cushioning to support the bird as it walks.

"The internal compression rod and clasp system enables [the stork to have] micro-adjustments so that the stork is able to better get used to [walking with the prosthesis]. And the [prosthesis] can match the height of the stork's remaining leg while offering both walking support and shock absorption," said Li Zheng, a staff member at the Tianjin Wildlife Rescue and Domestication Breeding Center, as he showed off the final design.

The 17-centimeter-tall prosthesis is made from resin and silicone, and it is designed to weigh roughly the same as a normal bird leg. Its orange color was also chosen to help it blend in with its peers.

The breakthrough came on the morning of Wednesday, when staff carefully carried out the fitting. After nearly an hour-long, non-invasive procedure, the prosthesis was successfully installed.

Returning to its outdoor enclosure, the stork took some time to adjust and adapt to the new feeling. But, before long, it was soon seen attempting to step up onto a rocky formation with its new leg leading the way, and after a couple of shaky moments it appeared able to keep its balance.

Next, staff say they will monitor and assess how well the stork is acclimatizing to the brand new prosthetic. If they deem it can live and move normally, the bird will be released back into the wild at an appropriate time.