China urges Security Council to play due role on Palestinian issue

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, speaks during a meeting of the UN Security Council at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Dec 30, 2014. [Photo/IC]

UNITED NATIONS -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called on the UN Security Council to "effectively assume responsibility" and play its due role in mediating the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, made the appeal at a Security Council meeting, where a Palestinian-drafted resolution urging the end of Israeli occupation by the end of 2017 failed to be adopted.

Expressing deep regret over the failure, Liu said this draft reflects reasonable demands of the Arab countries and the Palestinian people.

"It's in accord with relevant UN resolutions, the 'Land for Peace' principle, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Middle East Peace Road Map," he said. "It's also in accord with China's consistent position."

"China supports the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, and supports the establishment of a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian State on the basis of the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital," Liu said, adding that China also supports Palestine's admission to the United Nations and other international organizations.

The ambassador voiced the hope that Israel will end its occupation of Palestinian territories at an early date, and that Palestine and Israel will resume peace talks as soon as possible and realize peaceful coexistence as two countries.

"The Middle East peace process is now in deep stalemate. Tensions between Palestine and Israel persist," Liu stressed, urging the international community to "redouble efforts" to help the two sides end the cycle of violence and return to the correct track of peace talks.