Chinese President Xi Jinping will address Arab leaders and diplomats at a forum in Beijing, seeking to deepen ties with the region and speak with a “common voice” on the conflict in Gaza, AFP reports.

China’s capital is this week hosting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and several other Arab leaders for a forum in which the conflict between Israel and Hamas is expected to be front and centre.

Beijing has good relations with Israel but has supported the Palestinian cause for decades and campaigned for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Meeting Sisi on Wednesday, Xi said he was “deeply pained” by the “extremely severe” situation in Gaza, where the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry now says 36,171 people, mostly civilians, have been killed.

“The top priority task now is an immediate ceasefire, in order to avoid spillover of conflict, impact on regional peace and stability, and… to prevent a more serious humanitarian crisis,” the Chinese leader said.

He said China was ready to work with Egypt to continue to assist the people of Gaza “and push for an early, comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue”.