Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for the establishment of an “independent” Palestinian state.

Yi’s comments came after he with Palestinian Authority (PA) Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki last week. The PA is seeking to increase China’s involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. 

“This year marks the 70th anniversary of the United Nations’ passing of the Palestine-Israel Partition Plan,” Yi said in a joint briefing with al-Maliki. “According to the resolution at that time, Israel had the right to statehood; Palestine also had the right to statehood. However, after 70 years, what we can see is that Palestinian brothers have yet to establish an independent country with full sovereignty. This is unfair. This kind of historical injustice must be corrected and cannot continue.”

Al-Maliki said, “We do like to see more Chinese involvement in bringing about a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine. And of course, you know, China is a good friend to both parties, to Israel and Palestine. That really qualifies her to play a role if that really suits her.”

China has traditionally played a minor role in the Mideast peace process, but has long maintained warm relations with the Palestinians.