Chinese foreign minister stresses two-state solution to Palestine-Israel question

China has called for the convening of a more authoritative, inclusive, and result-oriented peace conference to set a roadmap and timetable for the two-state solution to the Palestine-Israel issue.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made his country’s position clear during a meeting with the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres at the UN headquarters in New York.

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China supports the United Nations in playing a leading role to that end, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee,

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a global focus, and the role of the United Nations and its actions are drawing global attention, Wang said.

On this issue, China has always been on the side of peace, on the side of human conscience, and on the side of international law, he said.

China supports the United Nations and the secretary-general in playing a unique and indispensable role in dealing with the issue, said Wang.

As the president of the UN Security Council for the month of November, China, maintaining close communication with Arab countries and other relevant parties, has made the Palestinian-Israeli conflict a key priority of the council, he said.

China has also received a joint delegation of foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic countries in Beijing and reached consensus on convening a high-level Security Council meeting, at which China hopes the council could speak with one clear voice, Wang said.

Wang said the Security Council Resolution 2712 is the first step toward a cease-fire and a good start toward the political settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The key point now is whether the humanitarian pause currently in effect could be extended and whether the flames of war would resume in Gaza, he said.

China’s position is clear. First, war should not be allowed to return.

A comprehensive cease-fire should be in place in order to prevent an even larger humanitarian disaster.

People in captivity should be released, Wang said.

Second, humanitarian supplies should have unhindered access to Gaza.

More border crossings should be made available and an effective monitoring mechanism should be established.

Third, the two-state solution, which is the greatest common denominator of the international community and the fundamental way out to the Palestinian-Israeli issue, should be brought back as soon as possible, he said.

Guterres, for his part, expressed appreciation for China’s constructive role in pushing for a political solution to the Palestinian-Israeli issue and alleviating the humanitarian situation in Gaza during its Security Council presidency.

He thanked China for convening a high-level Security Council meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue.

The upcoming meeting, the first one for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2712, is of great importance, said the UN chief.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains concerning.

Civilian casualties, particularly of children, are unprecedented and unacceptable.

The temporary pause in hostilities is not enough as humanitarian supplies for Gaza are far from enough, Guterres said.

There is a need to open more border crossings and simplify procedures so that humanitarian supplies can reach Gaza in a rapid and unimpeded manner, said Guterres.

The United Nations is firmly in favor of the two-state solution as the fundamental way to solve the Palestinian question, he said, expressing the hope that the Security Council could reach more consensus on it.

Wang, on behalf of the Chinese government, mourned the deaths of UN staffers in the latest round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

He also met separately with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir in New York on Tuesday. 

Chinese foreign minister stresses two-state solution to Palestine-Israel question