Wang calls for Middle East restraint after meeting Spanish foreign minister

China called for all parties to show the greatest degree of calm and restraint in order to ease the current Palestine-Israel conflict, visiting State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday.

Wang made the remark in Madrid at a joint press conference with Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis.

Peace and life are the most precious things in the world, Wang said and every hope for peace should be strived for, and every life deserves to be earnestly cherished, Wang said.

Wang expressed deep shock and sympathy over the incident that killed 62 people and injured more than 2,000 in one day.

On Monday, tens of thousands of Palestinians launched demonstrations to protest against the United States moving its Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Clashes with Israeli security troops on the border between Israel and Gaza led to heavy casualties.

We strongly condemn the willful use of force, Wang said. Any justification is pale in front of so painful sacrifices, he added, and called for all sides to keep a degree of calm and restraint to ease the current tensions as soon as possible.

The Palestinian issue, which has lasted for more than seven decades, has witnessed so many bloody incidents, and “the situation should be not continued”, Wang said.

The state councilor also said that China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, will steadfastly support and promote the Middle East peace process, as well as supporting Palestinians to resume their legitimate national rights and interests.

China will also stand ready with the international community, adhere to the two-state solution and promote a comprehensive, just and proper solution to the Palestinian issue on the basis of adhering to peace talks, he added.