Chinese FM: China champions justice, peace, development in Middle East

Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an inseparable part of Palestinian territory, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday at a press conference on the sidelines of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress.

Changing the status of Gaza by forceful means will not bring peace, but only new chaos. The will of the people must not be defied, and the principle of justice must not be abandoned. Without peace in the Middle East, the world will not be stable. The Palestinian issue has always been at the heart of the Middle East conflict, Wang added.

China supports the efforts made by Egypt and other Arab countries to promote the continuous and effective implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, facilitate humanitarian aid, and restore security and stability in the region, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday at a regular news briefing.

The principle of "the Palestinians governing Palestine" should be upheld in the post-war governance of Gaza, in line with the two-state solution, with the ultimate goal of achieving peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel, as well as long-term peace and stability in the Middle East, the spokesperson said.

"We will continue to strive resolutely for justice, peace and development for the people of the Middle East," said Wang at the press conference.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: Rockets fired by Palestinian militants toward Israel, in Gaza City, August 5, 2022. /VCG)