China plays an important role in humanitarian efforts in the Middle East, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) looks forward to deepening cooperation with China in this regard in the future, a senior ICRC official has said.
Nicolas von Arx, regional director of the ICRC for the Near and Middle East, made the remarks in a recent interview with Chinese official news agency in Beijing during his visit to China.
“For some time, the situation in the Middle East has been dire, with people being displaced and separated from their families, infrastructure destroyed, and access to basic services severely constrained,” Von Arx said.
He expressed high appreciation for China’s contributions to the humanitarian cause in the region, noting China’s support to both the Gaza Strip and Syria in recent years. Last year, China pledged 100 million U.S. dollars in aid to Palestine to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support recovery and reconstruction. After the powerful earthquake that struck Türkiye and Syria in 2023, China delivered humanitarian supplies to both countries.
Von Arx thanked China for its support and cooperation with the ICRC, commending the country’s respect for international humanitarian law. In September 2024, China, along with five other countries and the ICRC, jointly launched a high-level global initiative to galvanize political commitment in support of international humanitarian law.
During his visit, Von Arx held meetings with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies, as well as representatives of various think tanks. At a meeting with Zhai Jun, China’s special envoy for the Middle East, the two sides exchanged views on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Syria, and Yemen.
He further stated that the ICRC looks forward to expanded cooperation with China in humanitarian efforts in the Middle East. “I hope we can deepen this engagement. Be it through the diplomatic missions, in the field or elsewhere, I think this is a multilayer relationship that we cherish and that we want to strengthen over time,” Von Arx said.
