This photo taken on October 8, 2023 shows Israeli military vehicles in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon. Photo: Xinhua

Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, had a phone call on Tuesday with an official from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. Zhai said that the fundamental solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution, and that China is willing to promote an immediate ceasefire and cessation of violence, and to provide humanitarian support to the Palestinian people.

Zhai expressed deep concern over the escalating tension and violence in the current Israeli-Palestinian situation, and said he is deeply saddened by the large number of civilian casualties caused by the conflict. China opposes and condemns acts that harm civilians and calls for an immediate ceasefire, Zhai noted.

Zhai stressed that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to cycle, and the crux of the matter lies in the failure to resolve the Palestinian issue justly. "The fundamental solution lies in implementing the two-state solution, and the international community should make practical efforts with the utmost sense of urgency to promote it."

China is willing to maintain communication and coordination with Egypt, and to promote an immediate ceasefire and cessation of violence between the conflicting parties, as well as to promote synergy among the international community, Zhai added. "China is also willing to provide humanitarian support to the Palestinian people, in order to prevent the humanitarian crisis from worsening, particularly in the Gaza Strip."

During the phone conversation, Osama Khedr, Assistant minister of the Palestine Department in the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs highly appreciates China's long-standing fair position on the Palestinian issue and emphasizes that the comprehensive and just resolution of the Palestinian issue should be based on the two-state solution in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions.

The international community should shoulder its responsibility and create conditions for restarting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the official said, adding that the Egyptian side looks forward to working with China to help in easing the situation.

Global Times