Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during a press conference on the sideline of the National People's Congress in Beijing. AP
"Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people. It is an inseparable part of the Palestinian territories. Changing its status by forceful means will not bring about peace, but only new chaos," Yi said at a press conference on the sidelines of China's annual parliamentary meeting.
"We support the plan for restoring peace in Gaza initiated by Egypt and other Arab countries. The will of the people must not be defied, and the principle of justice must not be abandoned," he added.
In addition, Yi said that if a major power truly cared about the people of Gaza, it would work toward a lasting ceasefire, expand humanitarian aid, uphold Palestinian self-governance, and support reconstruction efforts.
On Tuesday, Arab leaders adopted Egypt's reconstruction plan at an emergency Arab Summit in Cairo and called for an international conference to recognize Palestine's statehood.
The five-year plan, estimated to cost around $53 billion, focuses on restoring essential infrastructure, addressing humanitarian needs, and ensuring sustainable development.
It also includes social protection programmes for the Palestinians and addresses critical issues related to security and governance in Gaza.
Speaking at the press conference, China's foreign minister warned that instability in the Middle East would have global repercussions, stressing that the Palestinian issue had long been central to the region's conflicts.
"The Israeli-Palestinian conflict takes place again and again simply because the two-state solution is only half achieved: the state of Israel has long been a reality, but the state of Palestine is still far beyond reach," he said.
Yi called on the international community to prioritise the two-state solution and build a global consensus for peace between Palestine and Israel.
He urged Palestinian factions to honour the Beijing Declaration and called on Middle Eastern countries to unite in supporting Palestinian statehood.
The "Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity" was signed on 23 July 2024 between the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority and Hamas.
The declaration was motivated by Israel's genocidal war on Gaza and aimed to support attempts to form a unity government and coordinate efforts for Gaza's reconstruction.
Fourteen Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, signed the agreement as part of efforts to reconcile the two groups. Fatah, which leads the Palestinian Authority, has long been central to statehood efforts but remains at odds with Hamas.
Yi reaffirmed China as a strategic partner to Middle Eastern countries and a sincere friend to Arab nations, supporting their right to shape their future and pursue independent development.
"We will continue to strive resolutely for justice, peace, and development for the Middle East people," he said.
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