On the evening of November 21, President Xi Jinping attended the BRICS Extraordinary Virtual Summit on the Palestinian-Israeli Issue and delivered an important speech entitled "Promoting a Ceasefire and Ending the Fighting for Lasting Peace and Security."

On the evening of November 21, President Xi Jinping attended the BRICS Extraordinary Virtual Summit on the Palestinian-Israeli Issue and delivered an important speech entitled "Promoting a Ceasefire and Ending the Fighting for Lasting Peace and Security." Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Jingwen

Xi Jinping noted that this summit is the first leaders' meeting since the expansion of BRICS. Under the current circumstances, it is highly timely and necessary for BRICS countries to voice justice and peace on the Palestinian-Israeli issue. The conflict in Gaza has lasted for more than a month, causing heavy civilian casualties and a humanitarian disaster, and showing a trend of spillover and expansion. China is deeply concerned. The immediate priorities are, first, that all parties to the conflict must immediately cease fire and end the fighting, stop all violence and attacks against civilians, release detained civilians, and avoid even more severe loss of life. Second, it is necessary to ensure the safety and smooth operation of humanitarian relief corridors, provide more humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, and stop collective punishment against the people of Gaza such as forced displacement and cuts to water, electricity and fuel. Third, the international community must take practical measures to prevent the conflict from expanding and affecting the stability of the entire Middle East region. All parties should implement the requirements of the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly and Security Council.

Xi Jinping stressed that the fundamental reason the Palestinian-Israeli situation has developed to where it is today is that the Palestinian people's right to statehood, right to survival and right of return have long been ignored. The fundamental way out of the recurring Palestinian-Israeli conflict is to implement the two-state solution, restore the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, and establish an independent State of Palestine. Without a just settlement of the Palestinian question, there will be no lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. China calls for the early convening of a more authoritative international peace conference to build international consensus for peace and to promote an early comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question.

Xi Jinping noted that since the outbreak of the current round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, China has actively promoted peace and negotiations, pushed for a ceasefire and an end to the fighting, provided emergency humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, and will continue to provide material assistance according to the needs of the people of Gaza. As the rotating president of the UN Security Council this month, China has pushed the Security Council to adopt relevant resolutions requiring the extension of humanitarian pauses and humanitarian corridors, the protection of civilians, and the conduct of humanitarian assistance.

Xi Jinping stressed that the BRICS cooperation mechanism is an important platform for emerging market countries and developing countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation and safeguard common interests. Today, by coordinating positions and taking action on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, we have made a good start for "greater BRICS cooperation" after the expansion. China is willing to work with other members to usher in a new era of BRICS cooperation.

On the evening of November 21, President Xi Jinping attended the BRICS Extraordinary Virtual Summit on the Palestinian-Israeli Issue and delivered an important speech entitled "Promoting a Ceasefire and Ending the Fighting for Lasting Peace and Security." Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Bin

South African President Ramaphosa chaired the summit. Brazilian President Lula, Russian President Putin, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed, Egyptian President Sisi, Iranian President Raisi, UAE President Mohammed, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy, and the foreign ministers of India and Argentina attended.

The leaders attending the meeting expressed serious concern over the Palestinian-Israeli situation, condemned all violence against civilians, stressed that civilians must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law, called for an immediate durable and sustained humanitarian truce and the provision of humanitarian assistance, emphasized the settlement of disputes through dialogue, and supported all efforts conducive to a peaceful resolution of the crisis. The leaders called on the international community to support a just settlement of the Palestinian question, promote the realization of the two-state solution, and establish a fully sovereign and independent State of Palestine.

Cai Qi, Wang Yi and others attended the summit.