Speech by Chinese Ambassador Zeng Jishin at the Farewell Ceremony

His Excellency Brother Azzam Al-Ahmad, Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization,
Distinguished members of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization,
Respected leaders of Fatah movement and Palestinian factions,
Honorable advisors to the President, government ministers, and security force leaders of the State of Palestine,
Your Excellencies and Dignitaries,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Welcome all! At this moment, my heart overflows with emotions and attachment, as the scenes of our first meetings are still vivid before my eyes. On this occasion, I am honored to express my sincere thanks and gratitude for dedicating your precious time to attend this ceremony, and I extend my sincerest appreciation for your continuous efforts, diligent attention, and unwavering support in strengthening and developing Chinese-Palestinian relations.
        During the three years I worked in Palestine, I witnessed with you the historic moment of establishing Chinese-Palestinian strategic partnership relations, while I went through with you the longest and largest Palestinian-Israeli conflict in history in terms of casualties. I also personally felt the suffering and injustice endured by the Palestinian people under an occupation unparalleled in today's world, and I witnessed with my own eyes your steadfastness, resilience, and determination to struggle.
  Reviewing the past three years, what we are most proud of is the deepening and practical direction of Chinese-Palestinian strategic partnership relations under the strategic leadership of His Excellency President Xi Jinping and His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, and thanks to our joint efforts, this partnership has yielded rich and tangible results. The two countries have consistently supported each other on issues affecting their core interests and fundamental concerns. The State of Palestine has repeatedly and publicly affirmed its unwavering commitment to the One-China principle and welcomed the four global initiatives proposed by His Excellency President Xi Jinping. His Excellency President Xi Jinping pays great attention to the Palestinian cause, and has expressed China's supportive stance on many occasions and put forward its initiatives, firmly defending legitimate Palestinian rights and the values of justice in international forums.
        At the same time, exchange and cooperation between China and Palestine continue to deepen and develop in various fields, with a number of prominent projects successfully completed, including the Chinese-Palestinian Friendship Square and the second phase of Beijing Street. The Chinese-Palestinian Friendship and Development Building project has also been officially approved, which will provide specialized rehabilitative medical services to the Palestinian people and contribute to human resource development and sustainable development upon completion. China has provided several batches of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip through UN agencies, Egypt, Jordan, and other channels. In the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the Chinese side implemented projects to improve livelihoods under the concept of "small and beautiful," including well rehabilitation, road paving, student funding, and distribution of supplies. More than 1,300 Palestinian cadres from various sectors have traveled to China for training. I am pleased to see the Chinese footprint throughout Palestine and that the traditional friendship between China and Palestine continues and grows stronger.
        Reviewing those three years, one of the most difficult and important achievements was the meeting of the fourteen Palestinian factions in Beijing in July 2024, where you adhered to the spirit of supreme national responsibility and jointly signed the "Beijing Declaration," taking a historic and pivotal step on the path of national reconciliation and Palestinian unity. The importance of the Beijing dialogue and the Beijing Declaration lies in the clear and strong message they sent to the world, stating that the Palestinian people will not abandon their pursuit of national unity and will not allow internal division to continue.
In the current situation, international support for the just Palestinian cause is increasing and accumulating, and the demands of the Palestinian people for their legitimate rights are gaining more understanding and attention internationally. At this critical moment, if there is no internal unity, it will be difficult to translate external support into tangible results, and it will be difficult for the national cause to advance by benefiting from the current momentum. I am always confident that the united Palestinian people will certainly hold the future in their hands, despite obstacles to progress, and any attempt to liquidate the Palestinian cause will inevitably fail. There is an ancient Chinese saying that "strength is in the unity of brothers." The Beijing dialogue is not the end of Palestinian national reconciliation, and I trust that you will move forward with unwavering determination and resolve.
What I cherish most during the past three years are my memories with Palestine, its people and land. I visited all eleven governorates of the West Bank, walked through the streets of the Old City in Jerusalem and Ramallah, strolled through the fields of the Jordan Valley and Jericho, visited the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Tubas, and saw the traditional handicrafts of pottery and glass in Hebron. This land will always remain dear in my heart, and I will never forget the smell of Mansaf, the sweetness of Knafeh, the hustle and bustle of Al-Tira Street, and the diligence, wisdom, and dignity of the Palestinian people.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At this moment of farewell, I would like to reiterate my sincere thanks and gratitude to all friends from various circles for your support and assistance that facilitated my performance of my duties. I would like to thank all members of the Chinese community in Palestine for your joint efforts to lay another brick in building Chinese-Palestinian friendship. I also express my special appreciation to my colleagues at the Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine, who have always worked side by side with me, and I am proud of this organized, united, and distinguished team.
As a line from a Chinese poem says: "Let us strive, each on his path, pursuing the same goal despite the distances." Wherever I may be in the future, Palestine will remain in my heart forever, and I always look forward to the day when I hear the good news of the national liberation of the united Palestinian people.
Finally, with the Chinese Spring Festival approaching, I wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday. Long live Chinese-Palestinian friendship!
Thank you!