Hamas and Fatah held “intra-Palestinian reconciliation” talks in China, officials in Beijing confirmed on Tuesday.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said representatives of Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas held “consultations on advancing intra-Palestinian reconciliation and for in-depth and candid dialogue” in Beijing, state media reported.

The consultations were held at the invitation of the Chinese side, Lin said, Anadolu reported

two sides “fully expressed their political will to achieve reconciliation through dialogue and consultation and explored a number of specific issues, with positive progress being made,” Lin added. 

“Fatah and Hamas agreed to continue this dialogue process with a view to achieving Palestinian unity at an early date,” said the Chinese spokesman.