BEIJING, May 18: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met Chinese leaders on Wednesday, in his first visit since he succeeded Yasser Arafat as head of the Palestinian National Authority. The two sides signed agreements on economic and technological cooperation, and China offered medical equipment, factory materials and to support building cultural and sports centres.

“You are an old friend of China and the Chinese people...You have made a great contribution to the fundamental interests of the Palestinian people,” President Hu Jintao told Mr Abbas at a ceremony at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. “I believe this visit will promote the traditional friendship between the two sides,” he said.

China is a long-time political ally of the Palestinian Authority. Its official position is that Palestinians should decide their political fate themselves. China exports goods worth about $550 million to the Palestinians every year, official figures show, but also has trade ties with, and has bought military equipment from, Israel.—Reuters