https://t.co/ruHvGcDrZs Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo, emphasized “China’s support for regional countries in building a new security architecture in the Middle East,” as he likewise asserted that development must be “the foundation for common security,” Xinhua’s readout on their Sept. 2 meeting reported. https://t.co/P9Zcknctsz While the Egyptian and Chinese presidents discussed bilateral matters at length https://t.co/KEKTPIOGX5, Xi also presented a four-point proposal of the principles needed for the “new regional security architecture” needed for a lasting peace in the region to be achieved. He argued that it is necessary to “foster the internal driving force for common security in the region"— which means, he stated clearly, that “external powers” (none needed to be named) should butt out and let the nations and peoples of the region determine their own future. First and foremost, “people in the Middle East should remain masters of their own affairs, and external interference should be rejected,” Xi said. Here, he stated China’s support for “regional countries in strengthening dialogue on peace and security, exploring the building of a new security architecture for the Middle East, and taking their future into their own hands.” “Given the multiple hotspots in the Middle East and their close interconnections, comprehensive solutions” are required. He specified that “the Palestinian issue remains at the core of the Middle East question and should never be overlooked or marginalized.” Xi made clear that China recognizes that without economic development, regional security will not be reached. He told President El-Sisi that “the foundation for common security should be strengthened through development… lasting peace and stability in the Middle East fundamentally depend on development.” For all this to be accomplished, the principles of the UN Charter and international law must be upheld, and “external powers” give up their double standards, and “respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional countries,” he added. China, for its part, is ready to work with the countries of the region to “gradually enhance mutual trust, and eliminate the root causes of the conflict,” as well as on “safeguarding the security of international shipping lanes.”