China firmly supports Lebanon in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and national dignity, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi affirmed that China firmly supports Lebanon in safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and national dignity, stressing the importance of peaceful solutions to crises in the Middle East.
This came during his meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigrants of the Lebanese Caretaker Government Abdullah Bou Habib in New York where they exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East.
China has been closely following the latest developments in the region, especially the recent explosions of communication devices across Lebanon, and is firmly opposed to indiscriminate attacks against civilians, he said.
Force does not equate to rightness and violence against violence will not solve the problems in the Middle East, Wang said, adding that China strongly condemns any action that violates the basic norms governing international relations.
The current situation is a manifestation of the spillover effect of the conflicts in Gaza, and China calls for realizing a "permanent ceasefire and comprehensive withdrawal of troops" and ensuring an effective implementation of "the two-state solution," he said.
For his part, Bou Habib thanked China for speaking up for Lebanon at the UN and other multilateral occasions.
For a small country like Lebanon, it is important to maintain sovereignty and independence under the framework of the UN, Bou Habib said.