Oct 16, Kathmandu - China has urged Israel to fully open access to humanitarian aid and other supplies in the Gaza Strip and stop settlement expansion in the West Bank.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Thursday in Baku, Azerbaijan, on the sidelines of the seventh Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, according to Chinese officials.

Wang stressed the need for urgent action to protect nearly two million Gaza residents from a humanitarian crisis. He also called on Israel to halt and reverse settlement construction and expansion in the West Bank.

Both Israelis and Palestinians, Wang said, have the right to live in peace and establish independent states. He described a two-state solution as the appropriate path to resolving the Palestinian issue, adding that lasting peace in the Middle East requires dialogue and a political settlement.

China also pledged to work with the international community to promote regional peace and security.

Herzog expressed Israel’s interest in expanding cooperation with China in science and technology, investment, and people-to-people exchanges. He reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to the one-China policy and said his country was willing to maintain dialogue with Beijing on regional peace and stability.