Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged Israel to immediately halt settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and reverse its expansionist policies, describing the Palestinian cause as “the greatest historical injustice of this century.”

Wang made the remarks during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on the sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, according to a statement released by China’s Foreign Ministry on Friday.

Wang called on Israel to stop the forced establishment of settlements in the occupied West Bank and reiterated Beijing’s support for a two-state solution that would secure the Palestinian people’s right to an independent state.

He also called for the full reopening of access routes to the Gaza Strip to ease the territory’s worsening humanitarian crisis and enable the delivery of urgently needed assistance.

China’s remarks came amid continued international criticism of Israeli settlement expansion in occupied Palestinian territory, which undermines prospects for a just and lasting peace and further threatens the viability of an independent Palestinian state.

Arab and Muslim delegations walk out during Herzog’s address

The meeting followed a protest during Herzog’s address to the CICA summit, when several delegations representing Arab and Islamic countries reportedly walked out of the conference hall in opposition to Israel’s aggression against Palestinians and its continued settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

The walkout underscored growing diplomatic opposition to Israeli policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, as calls for accountability and respect for Palestinian rights continue to feature in international forums.

During his meeting with Wang, Herzog emphasized Israel’s stated security concerns and what he described as threats from regional groups. He also highlighted the importance of maintaining economic and trade relations between Israel and China.

Beijing reaffirms support for Palestinian statehood

China has long supported Palestinian statehood and a negotiated settlement based on a two-state solution. Beijing recognized the State of Palestine in 1988 and has repeatedly called for a political resolution that addresses the Palestinian people’s legitimate national rights.

Wang’s latest remarks placed the issues of settlement expansion, access to Gaza and Palestinian statehood directly before the Israeli president, reinforcing Beijing’s position that the Palestinian question must be addressed through a just and lasting political settlement.

The Chinese foreign minister’s intervention came as Israel continued to face diplomatic criticism over its policies in occupied Palestinian territory, while the walkout by Arab and Islamic delegations highlighted opposition to Israeli actions at the international summit. (ILKHA)