China says Palestinian groups agree to work toward unified government

China says Palestinian groups including Hamas and Fatah have agreed to work for the establishment of an interim unified government.

China invited representatives of 14 Palestinian groups for a meeting in Beijing from Sunday to Tuesday to discuss reconciliation.

China's Foreign Ministry said the groups agreed to work for the formation of a provisional national consensus government to rule the Gaza Strip and West Bank. The unity government is to be based on the framework of the Palestinian Authority. They also agreed to work for Gaza's reconstruction.

A rift has continued since 2007 between Hamas, which controls Gaza, and Fatah, which leads the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.

The row has been a major obstacle in efforts to establish a future Palestinian state.

The focus is on whether the agreement can help promote reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah to establish a governing system for Gaza's future following fighting between Hamas and Israel.

China apparently aims to boost its influence in the Middle East by mediating reconciliation among the Palestinian organizations, while the United States continues to support Israel.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing hopes the Palestinian groups will achieve national unification and establishment of an independent state based on reconciliation as soon as possible.

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