Xi reiterates China's call for 'urgent' cease-fire in Gaza

ISTANBUL

Expressing "deep sadness" over the "dire situation in Gaza", China's President Xi Jinping on Wednesday reiterated a call for an "urgent" cease-fire in the besieged Palestinian enclave.

"The ongoing conflict has caused massive casualties among innocent civilians in Palestine and the humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire," Xi told his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, whom he was hosting for bilateral talks at the Great Hall of People in Beijing.

"China is deeply saddened," he added.

"What is urgent now is to realize cease-fire as early as possible, prevent the spillovers from undermining regional peace and stability, and forestall a more serious humanitarian crisis," said the Chinese president.

Sisi is in Beijing to attend 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum.

"The fundamental way to resolve the Palestinian question lies in the two-State solution," said Xi, expressing China's "firm" support to Palestine’s bid for full UN membership.

He lauded Egypt’s "important role in helping to ease the situation and delivering humanitarian assistance."

Beijing "stands ready to work with Egypt to continue providing assistance to people in Gaza to the best of its ability and promote comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question at an early date," Xi told El-Sisi.

*Aamir Latif contributed to the story from Pakistan