UNITED NATIONS - China welcomes and supports all the international efforts in bridging the differences between Israel and the Palestinians and in promoting resumption of dialogue and negotiations between the two sides, Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Li Baodong said on Monday.

Li's remarks came as he addressed an open debate of the UN Security Council on the question of the Middle East.

He noted that the Israeli settlement is the direct cause of the impasse of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks as well as the major obstacle of the resumption of the talks.

China deeply regretted and was opposed to the recent Israeli decision of building new settlement in East Jerusalem.

"We urge Israel to stop the project immediately, actively coordinate international peace efforts, and create condition for building mutual trust between the two sides and break the impasse, " Li said.

China welcomed the recent agreement between the two sides on the exchange of prisoners. "China hopes Israel and the Palestinians would take this opportunity to continue to implement constructive measures to ease tensions, narrow down differences in order to restart the peace talks at an earlier date," he noted.

"The settlement of the Middle East issue cannot be separated from the support and assistance from the international community," Li said.

The Mideast Quartet will hold direct talks with Israel and the Palestinians respectively on resumption of direct peace talks on Wednesday.

China expects all parties concerned to make joint efforts for early resumption of peace talks and substantial results, Li said, adding Beijing supports the UN Security Council in playing a bigger role in solving the Middle East question.

As one of the first countries to recognize the state of Palestine, China supports the membership of Palestine in the United Nations, Li said.

"The relevant parties must create conditions for undertaking dialogue and negotiations, and end confrontation and tension that have plagued the region for a long time," Li added.