China tells US that Beijing ‘opposes all actions that harm civilians’ amid Israel's bombing in Gaza

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his US counterpart Antony Blinken on Saturday that Beijing "opposes all actions that harm civilians and condemns practices that violate international law."

Wang said the Palestinian-Israeli conflict continues to escalate and faces the risk of getting out of control, according to a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry about a telephone conversation with Blinken.

"China believes that safeguarding its own security cannot be at the expense of harming innocent civilians," he said. "There is no way out through military means, and using violence for violence will only create a vicious cycle."

Blinken briefed Wang on his visit to the Middle East and the US' position on the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict, it said.

Wang pointed out that the top priority is a cease-fire and to cool the situation as soon as possible to avoid exacerbating the humanitarian disaster, abide by international humanitarian law and open up channels for humanitarian relief.

"The fundamental way to solve the Palestinian issue lies in implementing the 'two-state solution', establishing an independent Palestinian state, and realizing peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel," Wang said, adding that China wants an international peace conference to promote the achievement of a broad consensus.

Wang said that in dealing with international and regional hot-spot issues, major countries should adhere to objectivity and fairness, maintain calmness and restraint, and take the lead in abiding by international law.

US President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week that additional Washington assistance for the Israeli military is "on its way" and also updated him on intensive diplomatic engagement undertaken by the US to support Israel, the White House said in a statement.

Blinken said Washington supports the "two-state solution" to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli issue and supports the role of the United Nations in easing the situation and providing humanitarian relief. He said the US is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China.

The two top diplomats also briefly discussed Sino-US relations.