Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called on Israel to stop and reverse settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank following talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Azerbaijan.
The two officials met on Thursday, 15 October 2026, in Baku, on the sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia summit.
According to a statement published by China’s Foreign Ministry on Friday, Wang urged Israel to halt and reverse what Beijing described as the forced establishment of settlements in the West Bank.
The demand was part of wider discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and efforts to restore stability in the Middle East.
China renews support for two-state solution
Wang reiterated China’s longstanding support for a two-state solution, under which Israel and an independent Palestinian state would coexist.
He described the Palestinian question as a major historical injustice and called for renewed international efforts towards a political settlement.
According to Al Jazeera, Wang said the immediate priority was to fully open access to the Gaza Strip to prevent the humanitarian crisis from worsening.
He also expressed China’s willingness to work with the international community to encourage the parties involved to return to dialogue and negotiations.
The statements reflect Beijing’s diplomatic position. They do not indicate that Israel has agreed to stop settlement expansion or change its existing policies.
Israel emphasises security and bilateral relations
The Israeli government also confirmed the meeting between Herzog and Wang.
According to the Israeli government’s official statement, the discussions covered relations between the two countries and the wider situation in the Middle East.
Herzog highlighted the importance of economic, trade, and cultural ties between Israel and China.
He also outlined Israel’s security concerns, particularly those relating to Iran and groups aligned with it.
The Israeli statement did not announce any agreement on West Bank settlement expansion.
China maintains diplomatic engagement.
China has consistently supported Palestinian statehood and called for negotiations to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Beijing also maintains diplomatic and economic relationships with Israel and several other Middle Eastern countries, including Iran and Gulf states.
The meeting in Azerbaijan provided another opportunity for China to present its position directly to Israel’s president.
However, there is no confirmed indication that the talks produced a new agreement or a change in Israeli settlement policy.
No settlement agreement announced.
The statements released after the meeting show that China and Israel discussed regional issues but placed emphasis on different concerns.
China called for an end to settlement expansion, humanitarian access to Gaza, and renewed efforts towards a two-state solution.
Israel’s public account focused on bilateral cooperation and regional security.
For now, China’s demand remains a diplomatic appeal rather than an agreement or an announced policy change by Israel.
