China suggests large Gaza peace conference
Listen to the story (Australian accent)
China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, has suggested a large, serious peace conference to talk about the Israel-Palestine conflict. This suggestion comes as the situation in Gaza and the Red Sea gets worse.
After meeting with Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi said the world needs to pay more attention to what’s happening in the Middle East.
China’s foreign ministry says the details of the meeting, like when and where it will happen, should be decided by everyone involved. China also wants the United Nations to help with this.
In November last year, a group called the Houthis started attacking ships in the Red Sea. Last week, the United States and the UK attacked Houthi locations in Yemen.
The Houthis say they attack ships to show support for Palestine and Hamas, the group that controls Gaza.
Because of the attacks in the Red Sea, ships take a longer and more expensive route around Africa. This will make the prices of food and other products increase and also disrupt supply chains.
It also brings the problems closer to the Suez Canal, which China has invested a lot of money in.
China usually avoids military conflicts, and says it wants to fix this situation with diplomacy.
China’s President, Xi Jinping, recently had serious talks with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Iran. He suggested that the countries forget past issues. He also said that Saudi Arabia and Iran’s decision to work together in 2023 started to bring peace across the Middle East.
Vocabulary21 words
- Foreign Minister
- An important government person who communicates with other countries
- Suggest
- propose; to put forward; to recommend; to submit
- Peace conference
- A big meeting where countries talk about how to stop fighting and start getting along
- Conflict
- When there is a problem or disagreement between people or countries
- Situation
- What is happening at a certain place/time; circumstance; state of affairs; the way it is; event; occurrence
- Pay attention
- To carefully listen, look, or think about something.
- Middle East
- the area from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to Iran
- Ministry
- a department of a government (education ministry, health ministry, foreign ministry, etc.)
- Involve
- to be a part of; to take part in; to engage with; to participate in
- Location
- an area; a place; a fixed place or position in space; where something is
- Control
- to have power over something; to rule; to regulate
- Route
- the way to go; the course; path; direction
- Disrupt
- To disturb or interrupt something so it doesn't go smoothly
- Supply chain
- network of businesses, people and materials to make a product; The steps to get a product from where it’s made to where it’s sold.
- Invest
- put money into; spend money on a project or business
- Avoid
- stay away from; keep away; try not to do
- Military
- armed forces; army; agency or department of a government for combat/war
- Diplomacy
- Using discussions and agreements to solve problems between countries
- President
- leader; the top person in a large company, organization, or country; boss
- Leader
- someone who is in charge of a group, organization or country; a boss or manager; a person who guides, directs, or commands a group
- Issue
- a subject or problem that people are thinking and/or talking about; matter; topic; problem
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
China’s Foreign _____, Wang Yi, has suggested a large, serious peace conference to _____ about the Israel-Palestine conflict. This suggestion comes as the _____ in Gaza and the Red Sea gets worse.
_____ meeting with Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi said the world _____ to pay more attention to what’s happening in the _____ East.
China’s foreign ministry says the _____ of the meeting, like when and where it will happen, should be _____ by everyone involved. China also wants the United Nations to help with _____.
In November last year, a _____ called the Houthis started attacking ships in the Red Sea. Last _____, the United States and the UK attacked Houthi _____ in Yemen.
The Houthis say they attack ships to show _____ for Palestine and Hamas, the group that controls Gaza.
_____ of the attacks in the Red Sea, ships take a longer and more expensive route around _____. This will make the prices of food and other _____ increase and also disrupt supply chains.
It also brings the problems _____ to the Suez Canal, which China has invested a lot of _____ in.
China usually avoids military _____, and says it wants to fix this situation with diplomacy.
China’s _____, Xi Jinping, recently had serious talks with the leaders of Saudi Arabia and _____. He suggested that the countries _____ past issues. He also said that Saudi Arabia and Iran’s _____ to work together in 2023 started to bring peace _____ the Middle East.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think Wang Yi suggested a peace conference?
- Why do you think the Houthis started attacking ships in the Red Sea?
- Do you think it's a good idea for the United Nations to be involved in the peace conference? Why or why not?
- What are some ways that China could use diplomacy to help fix the situation?
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