The Chinese people will always stand with the Palestinian people and firmly support their just cause of restoring their legitimate national rights, no matter how the international situation evolves, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said while meeting with Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin on the sidelines of the Seventh Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku on Thursday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China was among the first countries to recognize the State of Palestine. China and Palestine are good friends and good brothers, and the two sides have enjoyed a friendship spanning decades.
The Palestinian question is the longest-standing hotspot issue and the greatest historical injustice in the world since World War II, Wang said, adding that without a just settlement of the question, there can be no lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.
Tensions in the Middle East remain high, creating new difficulties for resolving the Palestinian question, Wang said. The Palestinian question must not be marginalized, and the world must not forget the two million Palestinians in Gaza struggling on the brink of death, he noted.
Justice may be delayed, but it will not be denied, Wang said.
As a responsible major country, China will continue to stand on the side of international justice and oppressed peoples and speak out actively in support of the just cause of the Palestinian people on multilateral platforms, he said.
China will also call on all peace-loving countries to firmly support a two-state solution and work together to promote a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question as soon as possible, Wang said.
Shahin briefed Wang on the latest developments concerning the Palestinian question, stressing that the international community must not apply double standards to it. She highly commended China's consistent and just position on the Palestinian question.
Shahin said Palestine appreciates China's longstanding strong support for the Palestinian people's efforts to restore their legitimate national rights, its consistent efforts to speak up for Palestine at international multilateral occasions and its selfless assistance in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Noting that Palestine and China have enjoyed a long-standing friendship and sound cooperation, she said Palestine hopes to further strengthen bilateral relations and looks forward to China continuing to uphold justice for Palestine and playing a more important role in realizing the two-state solution.
(With input from Xinhua)