Wang Yi on Gaza ceasefire deal: China welcomes all efforts to restore peace, save lives

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday that China welcomes all efforts aimed at restoring peace and saving lives, calling for efforts to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while sharing China's views on the first-phase ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement reached between Israel and Hamas, during a press conference with Swiss Federal Councillor and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis.

Wang urged efforts to achieve a genuine, comprehensive and lasting ceasefire and effectively alleviate the humanitarian crisis to restore regional stability.

He urged all parties to uphold the international consensus of "the Palestinians governing Palestine," stressing that any future arrangement concerning Gaza must fully respect the will of the Palestinian people.

Wang also emphasized the significance of firmly upholding the two-state solution.

"Only by establishing an independent State of Palestine and realizing the Palestinian people's legitimate national rights can historical injustice and the root causes of violence be eliminated, achieving lasting peace and coexistence between the two sides," he said.

China stands ready to continue to work with the international community, including Switzerland, to make unremitting efforts toward achieving enduring peace and stability in the Middle East, the Chinese foreign minister added.