China condemns Israeli attack on Gaza hospital, urges immediate ceasefire: FM spokesman

China condemns Israel's recent strike on a hospital in Gaza, and calls for an immediate halt to the military operations and full protection of civilians in Gaza, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.

Guo Jiakun, the spokesman, made the statement at a regular press briefing in Beijing in response to a media query about the recent Israeli attack on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip which killed at least 20 people, including five journalists.

The media workers died during a "reporting mission" at the Nasser Medical Complex, said the Hamas-run government media office in a statement, adding that the casualties have brought the total number of journalists killed by the Israeli army in Gaza to 245 since October 7, 2023.

"We are shocked and condemn the fact that medical personnel and journalists have once again unfortunately lost their lives in the conflict. We mourn the victims and extend our condolences to the families of the deceased. China is highly concerned about the current situation in Gaza Strip, and opposes and condemns all actions that harm civilians, damage civilian facilities, and violate the international law, including violent acts against journalists. Israel should immediately stop its military operations in Gaza, achieve a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire as soon as possible, fully restore the access for humanitarian supplies, prevent a larger-scale humanitarian crisis, and promote the de-escalation of tensions as soon as possible," said Guo.

China condemns Israeli attack on Gaza hospital, urges immediate ceasefire: FM spokesman

China condemns Israeli attack on Gaza hospital, urges immediate ceasefire: FM spokesman

A growing number of Chinese energy companies are increasing their presence in the Persian Gulf as they get deeply involved in the region's energy transition.

As a highlight of China-Gulf cooperation, green energy projects carried out by Chinese companies in Gulf states gained spotlight at the 18th World Future Energy Summit, which took place from Wednesday to Thursday in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

A shining example is the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. As one of the largest single-site solar parks in the world, the solar thermal plant is a key project to help Dubai achieve its carbon reduction goals and significantly increase the share of clean energy in the city's power mix.

"Upon completion in 2030, it will exceed 8,000 megawatts, and it will reduce 8.5 million tons of carbon emmissions on an annual basis. And it will raise Dubai's clean energy capacity up to 36 percent," said Ali Hayat, a senior engineer of the project.

In recent years, more and more Chinese energy product suppliers have transitioned to a new role as investors by building plants and regional offices in the Gulf region to deepen their participation in local energy transition.

"China has been absurdly in the lead in both ways -- in providing technologies that make the cost of solar panel to be affordable around the world, and also in an amazing increase of the share of renewable energy in the energy system," said Francesco La Camera, director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Chinese companies seek greater role in Gulf states' energy transition