4. Xi’s speech on Palestine-Israel issue

Speech at the BRICS Leaders’ Special Video Summit on the Palestinian-Israeli Issue

(November 21, 2023, Beijing)

President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping

Dear President Ramaphosa,

Dear colleagues,

This summit is the first leaders’ meeting after the BRICS expansion. First of all, I would like to welcome the leaders of the new BRICS members and thank President Ramaphosa and the South African government for their efforts in this meeting. Under the current situation, it is very timely and necessary for the BRICS countries to make a voice of justice and peace on the Palestinian-Israeli issue.

The conflict in Gaza has lasted for more than a month, causing a large number of civilian casualties and humanitarian disasters, and showing a trend of expanding spillover. China is deeply concerned. The top priority is that all parties to the conflict must immediately cease fire and fighting, stop all violence and attacks against civilians, release detained civilians, and avoid more serious devastation. The second is to ensure the safe and smooth flow of humanitarian relief channels, provide more humanitarian assistance to the Gaza people, and stop forced relocation, water, electricity and oil cuts and other collective punishments against the Gaza people. Third, the international community must take practical measures to prevent the conflict from expanding and affecting the stability of the entire Middle East region. China supports the resolution passed on October 27 at the emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. As the rotating president of the United Nations Security Council, China presided over the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2712. All parties should implement the resolution’s requirements.

The fundamental reason why the situation between Palestine and Israel has developed to this day is that the Palestinian people’s rights to statehood, survival, and return have been ignored for a long time. I have emphasized many times that the fundamental way to resolve the cycle of Palestinian-Israeli conflicts is to implement the “two-state solution”, restore the legitimate rights of the Palestinian nation, and establish an independent Palestinian state. Without an unfair solution to the Palestinian issue, there will be no lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. China calls for a more authoritative international peace conference to be convened as soon as possible to build international consensus on promoting peace and promote an early comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue.

Since the current round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out, China has actively promoted peace talks and promoted a ceasefire and an end to the war. In order to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Gaza, China has provided $2 million in emergency humanitarian assistance through the Palestinian National Authority and United Nations agencies, provided food, medicine and other emergency humanitarian supplies worth 15 million yuan to the Gaza Strip through Egypt, and Material assistance will continue to be provided based on the needs of the Gaza people. As the rotating president of the United Nations Security Council this month, China has pushed the Security Council to pass relevant resolutions, requiring the extension of the humanitarian moratorium and humanitarian corridors, the protection of civilians, and the provision of humanitarian assistance.

Dear colleagues!

The BRICS cooperation mechanism is an important platform for emerging market countries and developing countries to strengthen unity and cooperation and safeguard common interests. Today, we coordinated our positions and took actions on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, making a good start for the “Greater BRICS Cooperation” after the expansion. China appreciates South Africa’s important contribution to promoting the development of BRICS as this year’s chairmanship. Russia will take over the presidency next year, and China is willing to work with other members to support Russia’s work and create a new era of BRICS cooperation.

Thank you all!

(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, November 21)