Xi calls for settlement of Palestinian issue

Achieving the goal at early date is conducive to world peace, he says

President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian issue is in the interests of regional countries and their people, including Palestine, and is conducive to promoting global peace and stability.

Xi made the remarks in a congratulatory message as the United Nations marked the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

The Palestinian issue is the root problem of the Middle East issues, which is of great concern for long-lasting peace, prosperity and development of the Middle East countries, including Palestine, Xi said.

Achieving a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian issue at an early date is in the interest of regional countries and their people, including Palestine, and is conducive to promoting global peace and stability, he said.

China firmly supports Palestinian-Israeli peace, Xi said, adding that the four-point recommendations proposed by China in July to promote settling the issue aim to push Palestine and Israel to rebuild mutual trust and strive for an early resumption of peace talks.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, China is willing to work with the international community to make unremitting efforts to achieve comprehensive, just and long-lasting peace in the Middle East at an early date, Xi said.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also said the two-state solution remains the only viable option for lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

"I remain convinced that the two-state solution ... is the only premise for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Israelis and Palestinians," he said in a message on the occasion, which is observed on Nov 29 each year to mark the anniversary of UN General Assembly Resolution 181.

Seventy years since the adoption of resolution, which provides for the Partition Plan for Palestine, a sovereign and independent state of Palestine has yet to emerge alongside the state of Israel, he said.

He encouraged leaders of Israel and Palestine to tangibly demonstrate their commitment to a negotiated peace and create the conditions for a return to meaningful negotiations.

The recent positive developments on intra-Palestinian unity should be harnessed by all to move the process in the right direction, he said.

"I reiterate my readiness to work with all stakeholders, including the Middle East Quartet and countries in the region, to support a serious political process, drawing on all relevant UN resolutions, international law and agreements, that will realize a two-state solution, end half a century of occupation and resolve all final status issues. Now is the time to end the conflict by establishing an independent Palestinian State, living side by side in peace and security with the State of Israel," he said.

(China Daily 12/01/2017 page12)