On the evening of November 21, 2023, President Xi Jinping attended the Extraordinary Joint Meeting of BRICS Leaders and Leaders of Invited BRICS Members on the Situation in the Middle East with Particular Reference to Gaza and delivered important remarks entitled "Working Toward a Ceasefire and Realizing Lasting Peace and Sustainable Security".

Xi Jinping pointed out that this is BRICS first summit since its expansion. Given the current circumstances, it is very timely and very important that they meet and speak up for justice and for peace on the Palestinian-Israeli issue. The conflict in Gaza is raging on into its second month. China is gravely concerned that the conflict is causing enormous civilian casualties and a humanitarian disaster, and tends to expand and spill over. China believes that the following is urgent and imperative: First, the parties to the conflict must end hostilities and achieve a ceasefire immediately, stop all violence and attacks against civilians, release civilians held captive, and act to prevent loss of more lives and spare people from more miseries. Second, humanitarian corridors must be kept secure and unimpeded, and more humanitarian assistance should be provided to the population in Gaza. The collective punishment of people in Gaza in the form of forced transfer or water, electricity and fuel deprivation must stop. Third, the international community must act with practical measures to prevent the conflict from spilling over and endangering stability in the Middle East as a whole. All the parties must act to deliver on relevant resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly and the Security Council through concrete measures on the ground.

Xi Jinping emphasized that the root cause of the Palestinian-Israeli situation is the fact that the right of the Palestinian people to statehood, their right to existence, and their right of return have long been ignored. The only viable way to break the cycle of Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the two-state solution, in the restoration of the legitimate national rights of Palestine, and in the establishment of an independent State of Palestine. There can be no sustainable peace and security in the Middle East without a just solution to the question of Palestine. China calls for early convening of an international peace conference that is more authoritative to build international consensus for peace and work toward an early solution to the question of Palestine that is comprehensive, just and sustainable.

Xi Jinping pointed out that since the outbreak of the latest Palestinian-Israeli conflict, China has been working actively to promote peace talks and a ceasefire. China has provided emergency humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip, and will provide more supplies and assistance according to the needs of the people in Gaza. At the U.N. Security Council, China has acted in its capacity as president to facilitate the adoption of the resolution, which calls for extended humanitarian pauses and corridors, the protection of civilians, and the provision of humanitarian assistance.

Xi Jinping emphasized that the BRICS cooperation mechanism is an important platform for emerging markets and developing countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation and safeguard common interests. "Our meeting today to coordinate positions and actions on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict marks a good start for greater BRICS cooperation following its enlargement." China stands ready to work with other members to usher in a new era for BRICS cooperation.

The meeting was chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and attended by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and foreign ministers of India and Argentina.

The participating leaders expressed grave concern over the Palestinian-Israeli situation, condemned all violent acts against civilians, stressed the need to protect civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law, and called for immediate implementation of a durable and sustained humanitarian truce and humanitarian assistance supply. They emphasized the importance of resolving disputes through dialogue, and voiced support for all efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the crisis. The leaders called on the international community to support a just solution to the question of Palestine and promote the realization of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty.

Cai Qi and Wang Yi, among others, were present at the meeting.