Chinese, Arab leaders urge cease-fire in Gaza

China and Arab countries made a strong call on Thursday for a cease-fire in Gaza and reiterated support for the restoration of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people as well as the establishment of an independent State of Palestine.

The call was made in a joint statement between the two sides on the issue of Palestine, which was one of the three outcome documents of the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum held in Beijing.

The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Mauritanian Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Merzouk and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit.