China puts forward four-point proposal for ending Gaza conflict
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi began a visit to Africa on January 13, visiting Egypt, Tunisia, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire till January 18. This marks the 34th consecutive year that a Chinese foreign minister makes Africa the first destination for his overseas visits. Wang Yi’s itinerary this time also takes him to Brazil and Jamaica, January 18-22.
On January 14, Wang Yi met in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, where he stressed the importance of implementing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
For his part, President Sisi congratulated China on its great development achievements under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and its increasingly important role in international affairs. China, he said, is a great country, and no country or force can stop China’s progress.
Expressing his gratitude to China for its strong support for Egypt’s economic and social development, Sisi said that the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by Egypt and China has achieved remarkable results.
He also thanked Chinese enterprises for their “important contribution” to Egypt’s national construction and economic development and welcomed more Chinese investments in Egypt.
Noting that Egypt is an important Arab, African, Islamic, and developing country, Wang once again congratulated Egypt on becoming a new member of the BRICS. China, he added, is willing to work with Egypt to promote a more equal and orderly multipolarisation as well as a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation, and jointly build a community of shared future for humanity.
The same day, Wang also met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.
Shoukry said that Egypt is proud of being the first Arab and African country to have forged diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, and it is a great pleasure to make Egypt the first stop of the Chinese foreign minister’s first visit abroad again in a new year, which demonstrates the solid and profound friendship between Egypt and China.
Egypt adheres to the one-China principle, unswervingly supports China in safeguarding national unity, stability and development, as well as regarding China’s legitimate position on issues related to Xinjiang and Hong Kong.
Wang noted that the China-Egypt friendship has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples and set a model for South-South cooperation.
Both sides, he continued, should promote cooperation in various fields, including new energy, aerospace, agricultural science and technology, digital economy, artificial intelligence, and medical and health care. China encourages Chinese enterprises to invest in Egypt, more Chinese citizens to visit Egypt, and stands ready to import more high-quality products from Egypt.
He pointed out that both China and Egypt, as representatives of major developing countries and emerging forces, pursue independent foreign policies and support genuine multilateralism. In a turbulent and intertwined world, China and Egypt are important factors for maintaining strategic stability. China is ready to work with Egypt to support an equal and orderly multipolar world and economic globalisation that benefits all, promote the development of global governance in a more just and reasonable direction, and safeguard the common interests and legitimate rights of developing countries.
In a joint press conference of the two foreign ministers, Wang Yi called for the convening of a more comprehensive, authoritative, and effective international peace conference to formulate a road map for implementing the two-state solution to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He also put forward a four-point proposal for resolving the conflict in Gaza.
First, the overriding priority now is to end the Gaza conflict as soon as possible. The international community must take immediate action and focus all efforts on achieving a ceasefire, protecting the safety of civilians, and avoiding the loss of more lives.
Second, it is a moral responsibility to ensure the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. It is necessary to establish a humanitarian relief mechanism as soon as possible to ensure the rapid, safe, barrier-free and sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in Gaza. China has decided to provide its third batch of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Third, the will of the Palestinian people must be fully respected regarding the future arrangements of Gaza. “The Palestinians governing Palestine” is the basic principle for discussing the future of Gaza. Strengthening the power of the Palestinian Authority and supporting Palestine’s internal reconciliation is the realistic approach to ensuring “the Palestinians governing Palestine” principle.
Fourth, the essence of settling the Palestinian issue is to correct historical injustice. Justice must be returned to the Palestinian people as soon as possible, and a political settlement must be achieved in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative by establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Wang also noted that Egypt is a major Arab, African, Islamic, and developing country. This year, China will host the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, and the new session of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. China looks forward to working with Egypt to lead China-Arab States and China-Africa collective cooperation to a new level, and to build a model of high-quality South-South cooperation.
The Chinese Foreign Minister also met in Cairo with the League of Arab States Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
The Arab League has become the first regional organisation to sign a joint statement with China aimed at further implementing the Global Civilisation Initiative, Wang noted, adding that China is willing to work with the Arab side to push for new progress in China-Arab practical cooperation.
He said that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, and that over the past two decades, the forum has made important contributions to promoting the development of China-Arab relations and has become a “prestige brand” for China-Arab collective cooperation.
Gheit said that the Arab League firmly adheres to the one-China principle and “one country, two systems,” opposes using double standards on issues related to human rights and Xinjiang and stands against interference in China’s internal affairs.
“We deeply appreciate China for upholding justice on the Palestinian question, and for its important contributions to ceasefire, an end to violence, de-escalation and the protection of civilians. We believe that China will continue to play an indispensable role,” he added.
China issued joint statements with both Egypt and the League of Arab States on the question of Palestine.
The joint statement with Egypt demanded an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire and opposed and condemned all violations of international law, including international humanitarian law, as well as of international human rights law, including the forced individual and collective transfers and forcible transfers of the Palestinian population from their land.
That with the League of Arab States demanded that: “The UN Security Council should heed the voices of Arab and Islamic countries and other countries that oppose Israel’s continued war against civilians in Gaza and take binding measures to ensure that international security and peace are properly assured,” adding that: “Any arrangement concerning the future and destiny of Palestine should follow the principle of ‘Palestinians governing Palestine’. Efforts should be made to achieve intra-Palestinian reconciliation and the support of both China and Algeria for an inclusive national dialogue with the participation of all Palestinian factions should be underlined in order to achieve the above-mentioned goals.”
The two sides also expressed “deep concern over the recent escalation of the situation in the Red Sea and stressed the need to respect Yemen’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, while ensuring the safety of international commercial routes in the Red Sea.”
“The Arab side highly appreciates China’s extensive efforts to calm the conflict in Gaza, achieve a ceasefire and support the just cause of the Palestinian people, and appreciates China’s Position Paper on the Settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict. The two sides are willing to continue to strengthen communication and coordination, make unremitting efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and end the grave humanitarian crisis suffered by more than two million Palestinian people, and work to end the occupation and promote a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question.”
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The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency and the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The two joint statements have been machine translated and lightly edited by us.
Egyptian president, Chinese FM discuss bilateral ties, Gaza conflict
CAIRO, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) — Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi held a meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday, during which the two sides discussed the ways to strengthen bilateral ties and stressed the importance of implementing an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, first conveyed the cordial greetings of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Sisi.
He said that Xi and Sisi have established a solid mutual trust and deep friendship, which is “the strongest strategic guarantee for the China-Egypt relations.”
China and Egypt have been consolidating their political mutual trust, yielding fruitful results from pragmatic cooperation, acting as responsible major countries in international and regional affairs, and have brought their bilateral relations to “the fast lane” and levitated to the “best level” in history, under the guidance and care of their leaders, said the Chinese top diplomat.
Wang also congratulated Sisi on his re-election by a high vote, expressing the belief that Egypt will achieve new and greater achievements on the road to national development and national rejuvenation.
For his part, Sisi asked Wang to convey his high respect and sincere greetings to President Xi.
He congratulated China on its great development achievements under the leadership of President Xi and its increasingly important role in international affairs.
China is a great country, and no country or force can stop China’s progress, the Egyptian leader said, reiterating that Egypt will always adhere to the one-China principle and oppose any interference in China’s internal affairs.
Expressing his gratitude to China for its strong support for Egypt’s economic and social development, Sisi said that the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by Egypt and China has achieved remarkable results.
Egypt attaches great importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership with China and is willing to establish a closer partnership with China and expand cooperation in various fields, the president added.
Sisi also thanked Chinese enterprises for their “important contribution” to Egypt’s national construction and economic development and welcomed more Chinese investments in Egypt.
Additionally, Wang said that China firmly supports the president’s leadership in guiding Egypt to choose a development path that suits its own conditions, oppose external meddling in its internal affairs, safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, pursue an independent foreign policy, and play a more important role in international and regional affairs.
China appreciates Egypt’s positive response to the joint construction of the BRI and will be a long-term and reliable strategic partner in Egypt’s development and revitalization process, said Wang.
China is willing to take the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership as an opportunity to strengthen the alignment of the two sides’ development strategies, promote pragmatic cooperation to achieve greater results, and work together to advance their respective modernization, he added.
Noting that Egypt is an important Arab, African, Islamic and developing country, Wang once again congratulated Egypt on becoming a new member of the BRICS.
China is willing to work with Egypt to promote a more equal and orderly multi-polarization as well as universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and jointly build a community of shared future for mankind, Wang said.
On the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Gaza Strip, the two sides agreed that a ceasefire and an end to violence should be achieved as soon as possible to prevent the conflict from further spilling over.
Also on Sunday, Wang held talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and signed the second five-year implementation outline of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership.
Chinese, Egyptian FMs hold talks on bilateral ties, Palestinian issue
CAIRO, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Sunday.
Shoukry said Egypt is proud of being the first Arab and African country to have forged diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, and it is a great pleasure to make Egypt the first stop of the Chinese foreign minister’s first visit abroad again in a new year, which demonstrates the solid and profound friendship between Egypt and China.
Egypt adheres to the one-China principle, unswervingly supports China in safeguarding national unity, stability and development, and China’s legitimate position on issues related to Xinjiang and Hong Kong. The Egyptian part looks forward to working with China to lift the comprehensive strategic partnership between Egypt and China to a higher level under the guidance of the two heads of state, said Shoukry.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China appreciates Egypt’s support for China’s legitimate position, and China also firmly supports Egypt in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, development interests and national dignity. China and Egypt will continue to support each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns.
Over the past decade since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Egypt, the two countries have enhanced mutual political trust, carried out fruitful cooperation and close and effective multilateral coordination, noted Wang.
The China-Egypt friendship has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples and set a model for the South-South cooperation. China is ready to work with Egypt to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, push for new developments of bilateral ties, and elevate the partnership to higher levels, said Wang.
Wang said the two sides should deepen practical cooperation, make good use of cooperation mechanisms at various levels and in various fields, such as the intergovernmental cooperation committees, jointly expand high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and push forward the construction of landmark projects such as the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, the Central Business District in Egypt’s new administrative capital, and the light rail transit system for the 10th of Ramadan City, etc.
Both sides should promote cooperation in various fields including new energy, aerospace, agricultural science and technology, digital economy, artificial intelligence, and medical and health care. China encourages Chinese enterprises to invest in Egypt, more Chinese citizens to visit Egypt, and stands ready to import more high-quality products from Egypt. China supports Egypt in strengthening personnel training and endeavors to make the Luban Workshop in Egypt a benchmark for China-Africa vocational education cooperation, he said.
He pointed out that both China and Egypt, as representatives of major developing countries and emerging forces, pursue independent foreign policies and support genuine multilateralism. In a turbulent and intertwined world, China and Egypt are important factors for maintaining strategic stability. China is ready to work with Egypt to support an equal and orderly multipolar world and economic globalization that benefits all, promote global governance in a more just and reasonable direction, and safeguard the common interests and legitimate rights of developing countries.
Shoukry said Egypt and China share the same or similar positions on major international issues, and Egypt is willing to enhance multilateral cooperation with China to jointly uphold the principle of non-interference in internal affairs, strengthen solidarity among developing countries, jointly oppose staging conflicts and confrontation, and preserve international and regional peace and stability.
The two sides agreed to jointly implement the outcomes of the first China-Arab States Summit and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and enforce the eight major initiatives on China-Arab practical cooperation and the nine programs for China-Africa practical cooperation.
The two sides had in-depth communication on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and issued a joint statement on the Palestinian issue after the talks, expressing grave concerns over further spillovers of the current conflict.
They stressed the importance and urgency of realizing a comprehensive ceasefire immediately and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, establishing an effective humanitarian relief mechanism, and promoting the implementation of the two-state solution, so as to contribute to a lasting, comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian issue.
The two sides signed the second five-year implementation outline of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership.
Chinese FM calls for int’l peace conference to settle Palestinian issue
CAIRO, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday called for the convening of a more comprehensive, authoritative and effective international peace conference to formulate a road map for implementing the two-state solution to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, issued the call during a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in the Egyptian capital of Cairo.
He expressed China’s support for the resumption of the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks as soon as possible, the final realization of peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel, and the harmonious coexistence of Arab and Jewish peoples.
China has always aligned itself with international fairness and justice, worked with Arab and Islamic countries to put an end to the conflict and violence, done its best to protect the safety of civilians, and made unremitting efforts to promote a comprehensive, just and sustainable solution to the Palestinian issue at an early date, the top Chinese diplomat said.
Wang also put forward a four-point proposal for resolving the conflict in the Palestinian enclave of the Gaza Strip.
Firstly, the overriding priority now is to end the Gaza conflict as soon as possible. The international community must take immediate action and focus all efforts on achieving a ceasefire, protecting the safety of civilians, and avoiding the loss of more lives.
Secondly, it is a moral responsibility to ensure the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. It is necessary to implement the United Nations Security Council resolution on humanitarian assistance in Gaza and establish a humanitarian relief mechanism as soon as possible to ensure the rapid, safe, barrier-free and sustainable delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in Gaza. China has decided to provide the third batch of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Thirdly, the will of the Palestinian people must be fully respected regarding the future arrangements of Gaza. Ceasefire and cessation of war are the fundamental prerequisites for the governance of Gaza. “The Palestinians governing Palestine” is the basic principle for discussing the future of Gaza. Strengthening the power of the Palestinian Authority and supporting Palestine’s internal reconciliation is the realistic approach to ensuring “the Palestinians governing Palestine.” The international community should listen carefully to the legitimate concerns of regional countries, and the future governance of the Gaza Strip should be an important step toward the two-state solution.
Fourthly, the implementation of the two-state solution is the only way to achieve a just settlement of the Palestinian issue. The essence of settling the Palestinian issue is to correct historical injustice. Justice must be returned to the Palestinian people as soon as possible, and a political settlement must be achieved in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative by establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. China calls for the convening of a larger, more authoritative and more effective international peace conference to set a specific timetable and formulate a road map for implementing the two-state solution, resuming the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks as soon as possible, and ultimately realizing Israeli-Palestinian peaceful coexistence and harmonious coexistence of the Arab and Jewish nations.
Chinese, Egyptian FMs reach important consensus during talks in Cairo
CAIRO, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) — Over the past decade since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Egypt, the two countries have opened up a golden era of leapfrog development in bilateral relations under the strategic leadership of the two heads of state, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a joint press conference after talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in the Egyptian capital of Cairo.
Noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang said that looking ahead, under the leadership of the two heads of state, this partnership will surely embrace an even more brilliant decade.
The two ministers have held fruitful talks and achieved a broad consensus, according to Wang.
Firstly, the two countries will continue to deepen strategic mutual trust and firmly support each other in safeguarding core interests.
China is grateful for the valuable support from Egypt on issues concerning China’s core interests, especially the Taiwan question, and will continue to firmly support Egypt in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security and taking a successful path of development that suits its national conditions, Wang said.
Secondly, the two countries will jointly work on high-quality construction of the Belt and Road to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results at a higher level.
China is ready to work with the Egyptian side to implement the outline of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries for the next five years and deepen practical cooperation in various fields, continue to support Egypt to promote its economic and social construction, import more high-quality products from Egypt, and encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Egypt, Wang said.
Thirdly, it is necessary to strengthen inter-civilizational dialogue and achieve deeper people-to-people exchanges between the two sides.
China is willing to work with Egypt to promote cooperation in the fields of culture, youth, think tanks and vocational education, and will continue to encourage more Chinese citizens to visit Egypt and experience the charm of its ancient civilization, Wang said.
Fourthly, the two countries need to carry out closer communication and collaboration on regional and international issues.
Egypt is a major Arab, African, Islamic and developing country. This year, China will host the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, and the new session of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. China looks forward to working with Egypt to lead China-Arab States and China-Africa collective cooperation to a new level, and to build a model of high-quality South-South cooperation, Wang said.
The Chinese foreign minister once again congratulated Egypt on becoming a new member of the BRICS group, voicing China’s readiness to work with Egypt to strengthen BRICS cooperation and jointly promote global governance toward the direction of building an equitable and orderly multi-polar world and promoting inclusive economic globalization that benefits all.
Chinese FM meets Arab League chief on practical cooperation
CAIRO, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the League of Arab States Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit here on Sunday, with both sides expressing willingness to strengthen practical cooperation.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that the important consensus reached between Chinese and Arab leaders at the first China-Arab States Summit has guided the China-Arab relations into the best period in history.
Over more than a year, both sides made solid and vigorous efforts to implement the outcomes of the summit, enabled the Belt and Road cooperation to fully cover 22 countries of the Arab League, and held the first China-Arab Youth Development Forum as well as the first China-Arab exchanges on human rights, he said.
The Arab League has become the first regional organization to sign a joint statement with China aimed at further implementing the Global Civilization Initiative, Wang noted, adding that China is willing to work with the Arab side to push for new progress in China-Arab practical cooperation.
He said that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, and that over the past two decades, the forum has made important contributions to promoting the development of China-Arab relations, and has become a “prestige brand” for China-Arab collective cooperation.
Noting that the 10th ministerial conference of the forum is scheduled to be held in China this year, Wang said China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with the Arab side to well prepare for and hold the conference, so as to open up new prospects and inject new impetus into China-Arab relations.
Gheit, for his part, said that the first China-Arab States Summit is of great significance and has gathered positive responses.
The Arab side will continue to implement the outcomes of the summit and the important consensus reached between Chinese and Arab leaders, and take the new ministerial conference as an opportunity to deepen cooperation in various fields, he said.
The Arab League, he said, firmly adheres to the one-China principle and “one country, two systems,” opposes using double standards on issues related to human rights and Xinjiang, and stands against interference in China’s internal affairs.
“We deeply appreciate China for upholding justice on the Palestinian question, and for its important contributions to ceasefire, stop of violence, de-escalation and the protection of civilians. We believe that China will continue to play an indispensable role,” Gheit noted.
Wang said that China and the Arab League are true friends and good partners, and that the Chinese side appreciates the fact that the Arab League has always provided firm support on issues concerning to China’s core interests and major concerns.
China will continuously support Arab countries in becoming united for self-improvement and maintaining strategic independence, he said.
The world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, and nothing can stop the trend of developing countries to strengthen unity and cooperation, speed up development and revitalization, and be resolute in becoming the master of their own future and destiny, Wang said.
China supports the Arab League in playing a greater role in regional and world peace and stability, and is willing to work with the Arab side to deepen and substantiate the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future and make new contributions to the development and progress of mankind.
After the talks, the two sides signed a cooperation document on the establishment of a China-Arab think tank association and issued a joint statement on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
China-Egypt Joint Statement on the Question of Palestine
Jan. 15 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) — On January 14, 2024, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, held talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukri in Cairo during his visit to Egypt. The two sides exchanged views on the Palestinian issue, including the Gaza crisis, and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and reached the following consensus:
- We demand an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, the cessation of all acts of violence and killing, an end to attacks on civilians and civilian installations, oppose and condemn all violations of international law, including international humanitarian law, of international human rights law, including the forced individual and collective transfers and forcible transfers of the Palestinian population from their land, and stress the call for the release of hostages and detainees on both sides.
- We express deep concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the suffering being experienced by the people of Gaza, and stress that humanitarian assistance should be adequate, rapid, safe, accessible and sustainable. Relevant United Nations resolutions, including Security Council Resolution 2720 on the establishment of necessary humanitarian mechanisms in the Gaza Strip, should be implemented.
- We call upon the international community and international donors to provide all forms of support to the Palestinian National Authority to help it fully discharge its mandated responsibilities throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
- The two sides are closely following the development of the situation in the Red Sea and regard it as a major trigger for the situation in Gaza. The two sides expressed concern over the expansion of the conflict in the region and stressed that the international community and countries in the region should work together to immediately stop the aggression against Gaza, ease the tension and turmoil in the region, and give priority to ensuring the safety of navigation in the Red Sea.
- The international community should shoulder its responsibilities and embark on the implementation of the vision of the two-State solution in accordance with United Nations resolutions, thereby opening up political prospects for peace between Palestine and Israel and the peaceful coexistence of the two peoples. A comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine should be achieved through the convening of an international peace conference, an end to the occupation, the establishment of an independent and contiguous Palestinian State based on the borders of 4 June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and support for Palestine as a full Member of the United Nations.
- China and Egypt appreciate each other’s efforts to de-escalate the situation in the region, alleviate the impact of the current humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, promote the end of the fighting in Gaza and support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people as well as efforts of the Egyptian side to achieve reconciliation.
- China and Egypt agree to continue to maintain communication and coordination on achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine in accordance with relevant international norms.
Joint statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and the Secretariat of the League of Arab States on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Jan. 15 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) — On January 14, 2024, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, held talks with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and reached the following consensus:
First, an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire should be carried out, the relevant resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly on the situation in Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict should be fully and effectively implemented, civilians should be effectively protected, all violence against civilians and violations of international law and international humanitarian law should be stopped, and the forcible transfer of Palestinian civilians should be opposed, and all detainees should be released as soon as possible, and a humanitarian coordination mechanism should be established as soon as possible to provide humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip through a sustainable, rapid, safe and barrier-free mechanism.
Second, the international community should take active measures to de-escalate the situation and achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible. Influential countries, in particular, need to play an objective, impartial and constructive role in this regard. The UN Security Council should heed the voices of Arab and Islamic countries and other countries that oppose Israel’s continued war against civilians in Gaza and take binding measures to ensure that international security and peace are properly assured.
Third, any arrangement concerning the future and destiny of Palestine should follow the principle of “Palestinians governing Palestine”. Efforts should be made to achieve intra-Palestinian reconciliation and the support of both China and Algeria for an inclusive national dialogue with the participation of all Palestinian factions should be underlined in order to achieve the above-mentioned goals. We are committed to consolidating the Palestinian National Authority and supporting its role in the next phase.
Fourth, it is emphasised that the two-State solution remains the basis for any future arrangements concerning the destiny of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in order to demonstrate the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and independent statehood.
Fifth, we stress the need to make effective efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the question of Palestine and support the establishment of Palestine as a full Member State of the United Nations and the establishment of an independent Palestinian State with full sovereignty and full sovereignty based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions, the principle of land for peace and the Arab Peace Initiative.
Sixth, the two sides expressed deep concern over the recent escalation of the situation in the Red Sea and stressed the need to respect Yemen’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, while ensuring the safety of international commercial routes in the Red Sea. Risks that threaten the security of shipping lanes should be countered, which is a priority for international peace and security. We call on all parties to de-escalate the situation, especially to quell the fighting in Gaza as soon as possible, prevent the spillover effects from further expanding, and earnestly maintain regional peace and stability.
Seventh, we call for the convening of an international peace conference with broad participation as soon as possible, to demonstrate international authority, promote the formulation of a binding road map, implement the two-state solution according to a specific timetable, and on this basis, promote the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, realise the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel, and bring security and peace to all people in the region.
Eighth, the Chinese side appreciates the important role played by the Arab side in de-escalating the situation in the region and avoiding a full-blown humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The Arab side highly appreciates China’s extensive efforts to calm the conflict in Gaza, achieve a ceasefire and support the just cause of the Palestinian people, and appreciates China’s Position Paper on the Settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict. The two sides are willing to continue to strengthen communication and coordination, make unremitting efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and end the grave humanitarian crisis suffered by more than two million Palestinian people, and work to end the occupation and promote a comprehensive, just, and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question.
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