Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during a meeting. File photo

China will do its utmost when it comes to contributing to Palestinian-Israeli reconciliation, its foreign minister told his Israeli counterpart in a phone call, according to Chinese state media.

China will firmly support any resolution as long as it is conducive to peace, Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Israel's Eli Cohen, calling the conflict a "major choice between war and peace", state media said on Tuesday.

Wang also called for Israel to take effective measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens and institutions in the Middle East, adding that "all countries have the right to self-defence, but they should abide by international humanitarian law and protect the safety of civilians".

China has condemned violence and attacks on civilians in the conflict, and while Wang has declared Israel's actions "beyond the scope of self-defence" he has not named Hamas in his comments.

In a separate phone conversation with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, Wang said he "deeply sympathises" with the people of Gaza, adding that they need security and efforts to promote peace, not weapons or geopolitical calculations.

China calls for the convening of a "more authoritative, wide-ranging and effective international peace conference" soon, Wang said.

"The UN Security Council should effectively shoulder its responsibility, the international community must act urgently, and countries outside the region, especially major powers, should be objective and impartial," he said.

Reuters