Mr. Chair,

The conflict in Gaza is raging on into its second month. China is gravely concerned that the conflict is causing enormous civilian casualties and a humanitarian disaster, and tends to expand and spill over. China has been working actively to promote peace, provide humanitarian assistance and facilitate a ceasefire.

Last week, under China’s presidency, the UN Security Council has adopted Resolution 2712, which calls for extended humanitarian pauses and corridors, the protection of civilians, and the provision of humanitarian assistance. This week, the delegation of Arab-Islamic foreign ministers visited China. Yesterday, President Xi Jinping attended the extraordinary joint meeting of BRICS leaders and leaders of invited BRICS members on the situation in the Middle East with particular reference to Gaza. As stressed and pointed out by President Xi, the following points are the most urgent and imperative matters for now: First, to achieve a ceasefire immediately and act to prevent loss of more lives and spare people from more miseries. Second, to keep secure and unimpeded humanitarian corridors, provide more humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza, and stop the collective punishment of people in Gaza. Third, the international community must act with practical measures to prevent the conflict from spilling over and endangering stability in the Middle East as a whole. We welcome the temporary ceasefire agreement reached by relevant parties, and hope it will help ease the plight of the humanitarian crisis, de-escalate the conflict and ease tensions.

The only viable way to break the cycle of Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the two-state solution, in the restoration of the legitimate national rights of Palestine, and in the establishment of an independent State of Palestine. There can be no sustainable peace and security in the Middle East without a just solution to the question of Palestine. China calls for early convening of an international peace conference that is more authoritative to build international consensus for peace and work toward an early solution to the question of Palestine that is comprehensive, just and sustainable.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.