Smoke rises from damaged buildings in the northern Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Jan 4, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

CAIRO - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday called for a comprehensive international peace conference to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as he expressed grave concern over the rising tensions in the Red Sea.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, issued the call during a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry in the Egyptian capital of Cairo.

Noting that the UN Security Council has never authorized any country to use force against Yemen, the top Chinese diplomat called for refraining from taking any actions that will "add fuel to the fire" in the Red Sea and raise the overall security risks in the region

He expressed China's support for the resumption of the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks as soon as possible, the final realization of peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel, and the harmonious coexistence of Arab and Jewish peoples.

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China has always aligned itself with international fairness and justice, worked with Arab and Islamic countries to put an end to the conflict and violence, done its best to protect the safety of civilians, and made unremitting efforts to promote a comprehensive, just and sustainable solution to the Palestinian issue at an early date, the top Chinese diplomat said.

Wang also put forward a four-point proposal to resolve the conflict in the Gaza Strip that includes securing a ceasefire as soon as possible, ensuring the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid, respecting the will of the Palestinian people regarding the future of arrangements for Gaza, and the implementation of the two-state solution to achieve a just settlement of the Palestinian issue.

He also called for an end to the harassment of commercial ships in the Red Sea, an important international trade route for goods and energy, while stressing the need to safeguard unimpeded global production and supply chains as well as the international trade order.

Noting that the UN Security Council has never authorized any country to use force against Yemen, the top Chinese diplomat called for refraining from taking any actions that will "add fuel to the fire" in the Red Sea and raise the overall security risks in the region.

READ MORE: China calls for calm, restraint over tensions in Red Sea region

Wang said that the current tense situation in the Red Sea shows the spillover effect of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, adding that the priority now is to stop the conflict as soon as possible to prevent it from further escalation or even getting out of control.

He added that it is necessary for all parties to jointly safeguard the safety of sea lanes in the Red Sea in accordance with the law, while earnestly respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries along the Red Sea, including Yemen.