On May 16, 2021, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi presided over an emergency public meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the Palestine-Israel conflict.
Wang Yi said that China is a sincere friend of the Palestinian people.
We have always been concerned about the Middle East peace process, always uphold justice and morality, and always support all efforts that are conducive to easing the situation.
Under the current situation, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward China’s “four-point proposal” on the settlement of the Palestinian issue in 2017, which is of greater practical significance.
Since China assumed the rotating presidency of the Security Council, it has made responding to the current tensions in the Middle East a top priority and has pushed the Security Council to deliberate on the Palestine issue many times.
We will continue to increase efforts to urge peace and promote talks, and fulfill the responsibilities of the chairman of the Security Council.
We reiterate our invitation to peacemakers from Palestine and Israel to come to China for dialogue, and welcome the negotiators of Palestine and Israel to hold direct talks in China.
Wang Yi emphasized that every time the Palestinian-Israeli situation falls into turmoil, it is a warning to the international rule of law, a test of multilateral cooperation, and a torture of human conscience.
Whether the United Nations and the Security Council can make a difference, the people of the world are watching and history is also recording.
We should and must be united, stand on the side of peace and justice, stand on the side of justice and conscience, stand on the side of historical correctness, practice true multilateralism, and promote an early, comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue.
Immediately cease fire, stop violence, and maintain fairness and justice-a speech at the emergency public meeting of the Security Council on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Wang Yi
(May 16, 2021, Beijing, video link speech)
Secretary-General Guterres, colleagues:
Thank you Secretary-General Guterres and Special Coordinator of the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Winnisland, for their briefings.
I listened carefully to the speeches of the Palestinian Foreign Minister, the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, and the Foreign Ministers of Egypt and Jordan. I welcome the representatives of Algeria and the League of Arab States to attend today's meeting.
In the past few days, the conflict between Israel and Palestine has been escalating, resulting in a large number of casualties, including women and children. The situation is extremely critical and severe. A ceasefire and cessation of violence brooks no delay.
The international community must act urgently to prevent the situation from further deteriorating, to prevent the region from falling into turmoil, and to protect the lives of local people.
Dear colleagues,
The Palestinian issue has always been the core of the Middle East issue.
The Middle East is unstable and the world is uneasy.
Only when the Palestinian issue is resolved in a comprehensive, just and lasting manner can the Middle East truly achieve lasting peace and universal security.
In response to the current tension, China puts forward the following propositions:
First, ceasefire and stop violence is a top priority.
Force cannot bring peace and tranquility, and violence will only sow more seeds of hatred.
China strongly condemns acts of violence against civilians, and once again urges both parties to the conflict to immediately stop military and hostile actions, and stop taking actions that deteriorate the situation, including air strikes, ground offensives, and rocket launches.
In particular, Israel must exercise restraint, earnestly abide by relevant UN resolutions, stop demolishing Palestinian houses, stop expelling Palestinians, stop expanding settlements, stop violence, threats and provocations against Muslims, and maintain and respect the historical status quo of the religious holy sites in Jerusalem.
The Palestinian side should also avoid taking measures that may lead to a further escalation of the situation, avoid harming civilians, and jointly promote the easing of tensions and cooling down.
Second, humanitarian assistance is an urgent need.
The new crown pneumonia epidemic superimposed on conflicts and turbulence has brought a heavier humanitarian crisis to the region. The situation in the Gaza Strip is particularly worrying.
We urge Israel to earnestly fulfill its international treaty obligations, lift the blockade and siege of Gaza as soon as possible, guarantee the safety and rights of civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and provide access for humanitarian assistance.
The international community must provide humanitarian assistance to Palestine through different channels, and continue to support the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and contribute to improving the humanitarian situation in Palestine.
The United Nations must play a coordinating role for the international emergency humanitarian relief plan and spare no effort to avoid serious humanitarian disasters.
Third, international support is an obligation.
The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. It must take vigorous action on the Palestine-Israel conflict, reiterate its firm support for the "two-state solution," and push the situation to cool down as soon as possible.
China has already drafted press talks with the President of the Security Council.
Regrettably, the Security Council has so far failed to make a unanimous voice due to obstruction by only one country.
We call on the United States to shoulder its due responsibilities, adopt a fair stand, and work with most members of the international community to support the Security Council in playing its due role in alleviating the situation, rebuilding trust, and resolving the situation.
We also support the United Nations, the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other countries that have important influence on the region to play a more active role and form a broader and more effective peace promotion effort.
Fourth, the "two-state solution" is the fundamental way out.
In recent years, the peace process in the Middle East has deviated from the original right track, and UN resolutions have not been effectively implemented. In particular, the Palestinian right to establish an independent state has been continuously violated. The plight of the Palestinian people has further deepened, leading to today's crisis.
This proves once again that the Palestine-Israel issue must, in the final analysis, seek a long-term solution on the basis of the "two-state solution."
The Palestinian-Israeli issue has been on the agenda of the United Nations for more than 70 years. Generations of Palestinians have waited from black hair to white hair, and have still failed to restore their national legal rights.
Justice is late, but it cannot be absent forever.
China supports the resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel as soon as possible on the basis of the "two-state solution" and the early establishment of a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 border, with East Jerusalem as the capital, so as to fundamentally realize peace between Palestine and Israel. Coexist, realize the harmonious coexistence of the Arab and Jewish nations, and realize lasting peace in the Middle East.
Dear colleagues,
China is a sincere friend of the Palestinian people.
We have always been concerned about the Middle East peace process, always uphold justice and morality, and always support all efforts that are conducive to easing the situation.
Under the current situation, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward China’s “four-point proposal” on the settlement of the Palestinian issue in 2017, which is of greater practical significance.
Since China assumed the rotating presidency of the Security Council, it has made responding to the current tensions in the Middle East a top priority and has pushed the Security Council to deliberate on the Palestine issue many times.
We will continue to increase efforts to urge peace and promote talks, and fulfill the responsibilities of the chairman of the Security Council.
We reiterate our invitation to peacemakers from Palestine and Israel to come to China for dialogue, and welcome the negotiators of Palestine and Israel to hold direct talks in China.
Every time the Palestinian-Israeli situation falls into turmoil, it is a warning to the international rule of law, a test of multilateral cooperation, and a torture of human conscience.
Whether the United Nations and the Security Council can make a difference, the people of the world are watching and history is also recording.
We should and must be united, stand on the side of peace and justice, stand on the side of justice and conscience, stand on the side of historical correctness, practice true multilateralism, and promote an early, comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue.
Thank you.