Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on his visit to Beijing on June 15th. Mr. Abbas was welcomed with full military honors by China’s President Xi Jinping, and the two sides announced the formation of a strategic partnership. This is expected to boost China’s energy resources and markets for exports, and promote its version of authoritarian government in the region. The meeting marks a drive by Beijing to counter the United States’ withdrawal from the region following conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Li is expected to travel to France and Germany to take part in government talks and attend a financial summit. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is also expected to visit Beijing to discuss trade, technology, and US support for Taiwan.