On May 20, the UN Security Council held a VTC meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, and was briefed by Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. Ambassador Zhang Jun, the Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, addressed the meeting and expounded on China’s position.

Ambassador Zhang said, China is deeply concerned about reports of the plan to annex part of the occupied Palestinian territory. The “two-state solution” is the only viable way forward to solve the Palestinian Question. We urge relevant party to stop any unilateral actions, and refrain from escalating conflict and tension. It is also our firm position that no country should back such unilateral actions. The Security Council should discharge its mandate and do its part to prevent such dangerous unilateral actions, and work on Palestine and Israel for early resumption of peace talks in accordance with relevant UN resolutions, the “land for peace” principle and the “Arab Peace Initiative”.

Ambassador Zhang emphasized, The Palestinian question is at the root of the turbulence in the Middle East. Independent statehood is the inalienable national right of the Palestinian people, and it is not something for trading. The Palestinian people can count on China’s continued support to their just cause to restore legitimate national rights. We fully support Palestine in building an independent and sovereign state on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. We will work closely with the international community in the pursuit of comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.