Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has sought to burnish his country’s credentials as a global peacemaker at the United Nations General Assembly, calling for a cessation of fighting in the Middle East and touting Beijing’s diplomatic efforts on Russia’s war in Ukraine, Reuters reports.

Wang spoke after Israel killed the leader of Iran-aligned Hezbollah with a massive airstrike in Beirut on Friday, raising fears of a wider regional war in addition to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza that began nearly a year ago.

“The question of Palestine is the biggest wound to human conscience. As we speak, the conflict in Gaza is still going on, causing more casualties with each passing day. Fighting has started in Lebanon again, but might cannot replace justice,” Wang said.

“There must not be any delay in reaching a comprehensive ceasefire, and the fundamental way out lies in the two-state solution.”

Read more here.