File photo of Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations

New York (People’s Daily) - A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called for the peaceful settlement of the Palestine issue on the basis of a two-state solution and for efforts to promote peace through development.

The international community should firmly promote a peaceful settlement based on the two-state solution. Independent statehood is the inalienable national right of the Palestinian people that cannot be compromised or bargained away, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations.

China hopes that relevant parties will take concrete actions to advance the political process, and pave the way for early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel on an equal footing, Zhang said.

“Relevant UN resolutions, the ‘land for peace’ principle and the two-state solution set out the overall direction of the final settlement. They are important parameters in the Middle East peace process, and must be observed and reaffirmed,” Zhang noted.  

He said, the recent escalation of tension in the Gaza strip is quite unsettling. China urges relevant parties to exercise maximum restraint, refrain from any hostile actions that may further aggravate the fragile security situation. The  secretary-general’s call for global ceasefire should be heeded and truly followed.

He said China also noted with concern around the increased demolition of Palestinian owned structures in the West Bank that lead to more and more displacement. Concrete efforts must be made to implement Security Council Resolution 2334, including ceasing all settlement activities, stopping demolitions, and preventing violence against civilians.

He pointed out the international community should take a holistic approach, and promote peace through development. China commends the UN agencies including the WHO and UNRWA for lending a helping hand, and calls for intensified international efforts to alleviate Palestine’s economic and humanitarian difficulties, including through UNRWA. It is also imperative to end the blockade on the Gaza Strip and allow timely delivery of humanitarian assistance and services to people in need.

He acknowledged that China firmly supports Palestine's just demands and all the efforts that are conducive to the settlement of the Palestinian question. We stand with Palestine to establish an independent state of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders and with east Jerusalem as its capital.

He reiterated that China will continue to provide support and assistance to the Palestinian people to the best of their ability, including in the fight against COVID-19. China is also committed to working closely with the international community in the pursuit of comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East. China attaches great importance to the Iranian nuclear issue. China is committed to upholding multilateralism, safeguarding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East.