dpa
Beijing
A delegation of Arab and Muslim foreign ministers demanded on Monday an immediate de-escalation of the war in Gaza during a trip to China, their first stop on a tour of capitals.
The delegation, which met top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi, includes ministers from the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Indonesia. They will remain in Beijing until Tuesday.
The group said it will then travel on to other countries to press their case, but the next stop was not immediately clear.
Wang said China has always stood up for the rights and interests of Arab and Muslim countries. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Beijing was ready to work closely to bring about an end to the six-week war between Israel and the Hamas group, which rules the Gaza Strip.
Beijing has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and continues to advocate for a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri accused Israel of "systematically” obstructing aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, according to his spokesman.