In message to UN, president reaffirms China’s commitment to promote Middle East peace
President Xi Jinping has underlined the need for a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian issue, saying that China will continue to work with the international community to promote peace in the Middle East.
Xi made the remarks in a congratulatory message sent to a United Nations meeting held on Nov 29 to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
Xi said in the message that the Palestinian issue is at the core of the Middle East issue, and a comprehensive and just settlement bears on regional peace and stability as well as international fairness and justice.
The peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel and the joint development of the Arab and the Jewish nations are in the long-term interests of both sides and meet the common aspirations of people of all countries, the president said.
The international community should adhere to the two-state solution, prioritize the Palestinian issue on the international agenda, and help the Palestinian people realize their dream of an independent state at an early date, he added.
Xi stressed that China consistently and firmly supports the Palestinian people’s just cause of restoring their legitimate national rights, actively promotes peace talks and promotes peace between Palestine and Israel.
Noting that China supports the strengthening of the authority of the Palestinian National Authority and the enhancement of unity among all parties in Palestine, Xi expressed his hope that Palestine and Israel can resume peace talks as soon as possible so as to bring the peace process in the Middle East back on track.
Xi said China will, as always, provide humanitarian and development assistance to the Palestinian side, support its capacity building and help Palestine develop its economy and improve people’s well-being.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, China will continue to work with the international community to make positive contributions to lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity in the Middle East, he added.
In 1977, the UN General Assembly called for the annual observance of Nov 29 as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, through Resolution 32/40 B.
The special day provides an opportunity for the international community to focus its attention on the fact that the question of Palestine remains unresolved and that the Palestinian people are yet to attain their inalienable rights as defined by the General Assembly — the right to self-determination, the right to national independence and sovereignty and the right to return.
At the United Nations headquarters in New York, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland on Nov 28 called for urgent steps toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In a briefing to the Security Council, Wennesland said: “It is necessary to take urgent steps toward a two-state solution, which still garners considerable support among Palestinians and Israelis. Through incremental but tangible steps, we can build a bridge between where we are now and the conditions necessary for a peaceful resolution of the conflict based on United Nations resolutions, international law and previous agreements.”
The first step is to continue to engage with the parties to reduce tensions and counter negative trends, particularly those impacting final-status issues, he said.
The second step is to continue to improve access, movement and trade to create room for the Palestinian economy to grow, said the envoy.
The third step is to strengthen Palestinian institutions, improve governance and shore up the fiscal health of the Palestinian Authority.
Also addressing the issue, Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the UN, said Israel and Palestine are inseparable neighbors, whose security is interdependent and indivisible.
“The international community should … encourage both sides to find the greatest common ground through dialogue and cooperation to achieve common security,” Zhang told the Security Council.
Meanwhile, the occupying power should fulfill its obligations under international law to ensure people’s security in the occupied territory, he said.