BEIJING, Oct 16 (Reuters) – Chinese Foreign ⁠Minister ⁠Wang Yi told ⁠Israeli President Isaac Herzog that Israel ​should stop and reverse its “forced establishment” of West Bank ‌settlements, China’s foreign ministry ‌said in a statement on Friday.

China has ⁠consistently ⁠held that the Palestinian question is the greatest historical ​injustice of this century, Wang told Herzog during a meeting in Azerbaijan, the ministry added.

• Wang said ​that promoting peace and reconciliation in the region ⁠is ⁠the “cornerstone” of China’s Middle ⁠East ​policy

• China believes that the “two-state solution” is the right ​path to a ⁠resolution and the immediate priority is to fully open access to the Gaza Strip so a humanitarian “catastrophe” is not allowed to spread, Wang ⁠added

• At the same time, Israel should stop and ⁠reverse its forced establishment of settlements in the West Bank, he said

• China is willing to work with the international community to push all parties to return to dialogue and consultation as soon as possible and seek a political settlement of the conflict, Wang ⁠added

• China has long been a supporter of the Palestinian cause and Beijing also has close ties with Israel’s main regional foe, ​Iran

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Christian ​Schmollinger and Thomas Derpinghaus)

Copyright 2026 Thomson Reuters.

The Month in Photos: Sept. 2026

New York City police officers are on duty outside the Lotte Palace Hotel during a United Nations General Assembly leaders reception, late Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)