Chinese envoy urges int'l community to accelerate settlement of Palestinian issue

GENEVA, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese representative on Monday called on the international community to accelerate efforts to resolve the Palestinian issue at the 60th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council.

Chen Xu, China's permanent representative to the UN Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, made the remarks when attending the general debate under agenda item seven on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories.

Chen said that the current round of the Palestine-Israel conflict has dragged on for two years, causing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. Despite this, Israel continues to advance its plan to take over Gaza, accelerate encroachment on the West Bank, and carry out airstrikes against Hamas figures engaged in peace talks in Qatar.

These actions, he said, constitute grave violations of the norms of international law, gravely infringe upon the right to existence and development of the Palestinian people and those of neighboring countries, and directly undermine stability in the Middle East.

Chen called on the international community to attach great importance to the Palestinian issue, accelerate efforts to resolve it, push for a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza, revitalize the two-state solution, and safeguard peace and stability in the region.

China remains a steadfast supporter of the just cause of the Palestinian people, and stands ready to implement the Global Security Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, and to work with the international community to seek an early, comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue, Chen said.