BEIJING – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Albusaidi on Wednesday discussed the raging Israeli-Palestinian conflict, observing that situation in Gaza is deteriorating with every passing day amid increasing civilian casualties.
Expressing concern over the deteriorating situation in Gaza and the rising number of civilian casualties, Wang said that “no responsible country with a conscience can allow such a tragedy to continue,” Beijing-based Xinhua News reported.
Referring to a recent emergency special session of the UN General Assembly that, with an overwhelming majority, called calling for an immediate humanitarian truce, Wang said Beijing supports the convening of a “more authoritative, broader and more effective international peace conference” as soon as possible to push the Palestinian issue back to the track of the two-state solution.
Opining that the “way out” of the ongoing lingering conflict is the implementation of the two-state solution, Beijing’s top diplomat said that the root cause of the Palestinian issue is that the legitimate rights and interests of the Palestinian people have not been restored and guaranteed.
China is set to assume the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC) this month.
Wang said that China will strengthen coordination with all parties, especially Arab countries, uphold justice and consolidate common understanding, and make unremitting efforts to de-escalate conflicts, protect civilians, ease the humanitarian situation and resume the peace process.
Omani foreign minister, for his part, said his country expects China to play an important role as the rotating president of the UNSC.
Appreciating China’s “just and constructive” position on the Palestinian issue, he said that Beijing China has consistently called on all parties involved in the conflict to exercise restraint and work towards a ceasefire and has voted in support of the UN resolution proposed by Arab nations.
“This stance reflects fairness and justice, which has demonstrated China’s image as a responsible major country and its international leadership,” he maintained.
Gaza, he went on to say, is facing a serious humanitarian crisis, with more Palestinian lives likely to be lost in the coming week.
There is an urgent need for the UNSC to play its role in building consensus to achieve a ceasefire and avert an even greater humanitarian crisis, he further said. -AA
