On September 23, 2024, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Foreign Minister, met with Lebanese Foreign Minister Habib in New York to exchange views on the situation in the Middle East.

Wang Yi said that China and Lebanon have a long-standing tradition of friendship. China firmly supports Lebanon in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and national dignity. No matter how the situation changes, we will always stand on the side of justice and our Arab brothers, including Lebanon. We are highly concerned about the development of the regional situation, especially the recent communication equipment explosion in Lebanon, and firmly oppose indiscriminate attacks against civilians. Today, Israel launched another large-scale airstrike on Lebanon, causing significant casualties. We strongly condemn the violation of the basic norms of international relations.

Habib stated that China is a good friend of Lebanon and has been upholding justice and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries internationally. Thank you to China for speaking up for Lebanon in multilateral occasions such as the United Nations. For a small country like Lebanon, maintaining sovereignty and independence within the framework of the United Nations is crucial. Lebanon is facing difficult times, with over 300 people killed in Israeli airstrikes today alone. China has been striving for peace in the Middle East, successfully promoting reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran and dialogue among various factions in Palestine. We look forward to China continuing to play an active role in achieving ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.

Wang Yi stated that force does not represent truth, and power will only undermine peace. Using violence to counter violence cannot solve the problems in the Middle East, and will cause even greater humanitarian disasters. In the face of the current situation, the international community should form a clearer position, and regional countries should unite and make a stronger voice. The current situation is a manifestation of the spillover of the Gaza conflict, and China's position is to establish a "permanent ceasefire and complete withdrawal" and effectively implement the "two-state solution". Only in this way can we pave the way for the final resolution of the conflict. China is willing to work with Arab countries and the international community to continue making efforts towards this end. We hope that the Lebanese side will take effective measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens in Lebanon. Keywords: the Belt and Road news, the Belt and Road project, overseas project.

Habib expressed gratitude to China for maintaining a fair stance and will make every effort to protect the safety of Chinese citizens in Lebanon. (This article is from the official website of Jian Dao: www.seetao.com. Reproduction without permission is prohibited, otherwise it will be prosecuted. Please indicate Jian Dao website+original link when reprinting.) Jian Dao website mechanical column editor/Zhou Yingwen