Baku:Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged Israel to stop the "forced establishment" of settlements in the occupied West Bank and emphasized the need for the full reopening of access to the Gaza Strip. These remarks were made during his meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Baku, Azerbaijan, on the sidelines of the seventh CICA summit.
According to Anadolu Agency, Wang Yi described the Palestinian issue as the "biggest historical injustice of this century" and reiterated that a two-state solution is the appropriate path to resolving it. He noted the current regional situation is tense, and achieving peace and tranquility remains a distant goal.
Wang stressed the urgent priority of reopening access to Gaza to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe for its two million residents. He also called on Israel to cease and reverse the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. Additionally, Wang expressed China's willingness to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Israel, highlighting the upcoming anniversaries of their diplomatic relations and partnership.
In discussions about the Middle East conflict, Wang emphasized that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live peacefully and establish independent states. He asserted that sustained dedication to peace and adherence to the two-state solution would eventually lead to the long-awaited peace.
In a separate meeting with Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Wang affirmed China's firm support for the Palestinian people's rights and highlighted the necessity of resolving the Palestinian issue for lasting peace in the Middle East. He urged the world not to forget the plight of the two million Palestinians in Gaza and vowed that China would continue to advocate for Palestine on international platforms.
Since October 2023, Israel's military offensive in Gaza, supported by the US, has resulted in over 74,000 Palestinian deaths and more than 175,000 injuries, According to ministry. The offensive has also led to the destruction of 90% of Gaza's infrastructure, alongside intensified attacks by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.