On January 31, 2023, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue Zhai Jun had a phone call with Special Representative of the Russian Foreign Minister on the Middle East Peace Process Vladimir Safronkov at the latter’s request. They exchanged views on recent tensions between Palestine and Israel.

Zhai Jun expounded on China's principled position on the Palestinian question and its effort to deescalate the current tensions between Palestine and Israel, emphasizing that the pressing priority now is to do everything possible to ease tensions and call on all parties, Israel in particular, to stay calm and exercise restraint to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control. China will continue to work unremittingly for a comprehensive, just and enduring settlement of the Palestinian question.

Safronkov briefed Zhai Jun on Russia's position and views on the current situation between Palestine and Israel, and said that Russia is ready to continue to keep close communication and coordination with China on the Middle East affairs including the Palestinian question, to jointly promote the deescalation of the tensions and advance peace and stability in the Middle East.