'All parties should protect people's right to survival': Chinese FM on Israel's war on Gaza

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed Israel's offensive on Gaza via video at a high-level segment of the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. 

He emphasised that "all parties should protect people's right to survival and development as a priority," China's Xinhua News Agency reported

Wang stated that "it falls upon the entire international community to protect the human rights of all ethnic groups and all people in a fair, equal, and effective way," noting that the ongoing offensive by the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government has resulted in the deaths of nearly 30,000 civilians and the displacement of nearly two million people.

He said: "We must uphold fairness and justice, stand against attempts to use human rights as a pretext to interfere with other countries' internal affairs or curb others' development, oppose acts of hegemony and power politics, and reject the practice of double standards."

"We must pursue cooperation that benefits all. Consensus should be built through dialogue and mutual learning enhanced through exchanges," the Chinese minister added.

Yi emphasised that nations should not force their own ideologies or development models on other people, much less form small blocs and align against those with different views.

The minister maintained that China actively participates in the administration of human rights worldwide as a responsible "big country" and has helped to conclude several significant international human rights treaties and conventions.