On November 23, 2012, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks with Palestinian President's special envoy Bassam al-Salhi, who is also secretary-general of the Palestinian People's Party, in the Foreign Ministry. Both sides exchanged views on the current situation in the Gaza strip, Palestine's bid for the UN observer status and other issues.

Yang said China welcomes the declaration of ceasefire by Israel and relevant faction of Palestine. He expressed hopes that parties concerned in both Israel and Palestine would honor their commitments to the ceasefire and avoid more conflicts. To show the Chinese people's friendship to the Palestinians and help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the Chinese government decided to offer emergency humanitarian aid to Palestine, Yang said. He added that the Gaza conflict again showed the importance and the emergency of resolving the Palestine issue. Yang called on the international community to give full attention to the issue and make bigger efforts to encourage peaceful negotiations in a bid to bring Palestine and Israel back to talks and make substantial progress.

China staunchly supports the Palestinian people's just cause to restore their legitimate rights, supports Palestine's entry into the United Nations and other international organizations and understands, respects and backs Palestine's bid for the UN observer status, Yang said. "China will work with the international community to play an active and constructive role in comprehensively and fairly settling the Palestine issue at an early date," he told Bassam al-Salhi, who in turn provided a briefing on latest developments between Palestine and Israel.

Bassam al-Salhi thanked China for promoting a cease-fire in Gaza and supporting Palestine's bid for UN observer status. He also voiced appreciation for China's long-term staunch support for Palestinian people's just cause and efforts to establish an independent country.

Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun also met with Bassam al-Salhi on the same day.