CAIRO: China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Cairo on Sunday, called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and advocated for the establishment of a Palestinian state. The appeal comes as the Israel-Hamas conflict reaches its 100th day, resulting in thousands of Palestinian casualties.
Minister Wang emphasized the necessity of establishing an independent and fully sovereign state of Palestine, with its borders based on the 1967 lines and east Jerusalem as its capital. The proposal aligns with the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A joint statement issued by the Chinese and Egyptian ministers urged an immediate end to all acts of violence, emphasizing the importance of ceasing attacks on civilians and civilian establishments. The statement also called for an international summit for peace to address the Palestinian cause, advocating for the end of Israeli occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
In Gaza, the health ministry reports that at least 23,968 people, mostly women and children, have been killed during the 100 days relentless Israeli bombardments.
Both China and Egypt have historically supported the Palestinian cause, and Wang’s call for a ceasefire and statehood echoes the broader international call for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis. Chinese President Xi Jinping has previously proposed an “international peace conference” to address the conflict.
Wang Yi is currently on an African tour, with upcoming visits to Togo, Tunisia, and Ivory Coast.
