FM reiterates support for Palestine at meeting

The visiting State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi vowed on Wednesday that China will not stop its efforts to support the Palestinian cause so long as the Palestinian question remains unresolved.

He made the pledge when meeting with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki on the sidelines of the 48th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, hosted in Pakistan.

The Palestinian question should not be marginalized and still less should it be forgotten, Wang said, adding the historical injustice that has dragged on over half a century could not be sustained any longer.

Western countries have long ignored the Palestinian question and the international community cannot approve of this, Wang said, adding China would stand firmly with the Palestinian people.

Guided by the four-point proposal put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, which embodies the country's most authoritative position to settle the Palestinian question, Wang said China advocates the authority of the Palestinian National Authority to be enhanced and Palestinian factions supported for greater unity and internal reconciliation.

China supports the Palestinian idea of holding an international peace conference which is more authoritative, more influential and more extensive in scale, Wang said.

The permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and all stakeholders in the Middle East peace process should participate in the conference to jointly explore effective means to the political settlement of the Palestinian question, he added.

Wang said China would continue to call on the international community to pay more attention to and play a constructive role for the settlement of the Palestinian question.

China is ready to provide Palestine with anti-pandemic aid and humanitarian assistance, Wang said, adding the country would offer help to Palestinian refugees outside the border via the UN.

Al-Maliki highly appreciated the four-point proposal by President Xi, saying President Xi is the first and sole leader of major countries who calls for giving equal attention to Palestinian security concerns.

Palestine totally agrees on convening an international peace conference and hopes it can be held at an early date, he added.

Al-Maliki also thanked China for upholding justice on the Palestinian question and helping his country alleviating humanitarian hardships. China's spirits of sincerity, friendship and unity have deeply touched and inspired the Palestinians, he added.

He hoped China could continue to provide support for the fundamental settlement of the Palestinian question and long-lasting peace in the Middle East.