China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, on Monday, has called for an immediate ceasefire to halt the ongoing violence in Israel during a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Beijing.
The ministers discussed the Israel-Hamas conflict ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to China.
Wang emphasized the need for global powers to take action in light of the escalating humanitarian crisis, stating, “The United Nations Security Council must take action, and the major powers should play an active role.”
He further added, “It is imperative that a ceasefire be put in place, that the two sides be brought back to the negotiating table, and that an emergency humanitarian channel be established to prevent a further humanitarian disaster.”
Both Russia and China are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and have expressed their concerns about the root issue of the conflict being the lack of justice for the Palestinians.
The Palestinian goal is to establish a state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital, territories captured by Israel in the 1967 war.
While Russia has condemned violence against both Jewish and Palestinian communities, President Putin has consistently criticized the United States for its approach, which he believes neglects the fundamental need for an independent Palestinian state.
Russia’s foreign ministry described the meeting with Wang as an occasion for “a thorough exchange of views on a wide range of international and regional issues, including the sharply aggravated situation in the Middle East.”
In addition to the Israel-Hamas conflict, Lavrov and Wang also discussed the military conflict in Ukraine and explored potential solutions through “political and diplomatic methods.”
During the meeting, Wang expressed China’s appreciation for President Putin’s support of the Belt and Road Initiative and welcomed Russia’s continued active participation in the initiative.
