China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated on Saturday that the efforts to admit a Palestinian state into the United Nations are aimed at correcting a long-standing injustice, according to state media Xinhua.

He made these remarks during a joint press conference with his Papua New Guinea counterpart while visiting the country.

The United States recently prevented the UN from recognizing a Palestinian state by vetoing their full membership in the Security Council.

Wang emphasized that promptly admitting Palestine into the United Nations is necessary to address a historical injustice.