China, Russia to boycott US-sponsored Manama meet: WAFA

By Aysar al-Ays

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) – Chinese Ambassador to Palestine Guo Wei said his country, along with Russia, would not participate in a U.S.-sponsored meeting in Manama slated for June 25 and 26, according to Palestine’s WAFA news agency.

Wei reportedly made the remarks at a meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah with Nabil Shaath, a top adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

“Boycotting the Bahrain conference comes within the framework of a bilateral Russian-Chinese agreement not to participate in it,” WAFA quoted Wei as saying.

According to the news agency, Wei had stressed Beijing’s position “in support of the Palestinian cause and people, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state of Palestine within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital”.

Early last week, the U.S. announced plans to hold a landmark conference in Manama, where Trump administration officials are expected to unveil economic aspects of the “Deal of the Century”, a U.S. backchannel Palestine-Israel peace plan the terms of which have yet to be made public.

Along with host Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have both announced their intention to send representatives to the event.

Last Thursday, Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)’s Executive Committee, announced that Palestine would not take part in the U.S.-led conference.