China calls for unity of int'l community over Jerusalem issue

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy has called for unity of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and the international community at large over the issue of Jerusalem and for common effort toward peace in the Middle East.

After a vote in the UNSC on a draft resolution on the status of Jerusalem on Monday, Wu Haitao, charge d'affaires of China's permanent mission to the United Nations, said the issue of Palestine is at the core of Middle East peace and a root-cause issue.

The issue of Jerusalem is particularly complicated and sensitive, and involves the basis for finding a solution to the Palestinian issue, he told the Security Council.

A series of Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2334, made stipulations on the issue of Jerusalem. The draft resolution put to a vote on Monday was in line with previous Security Council resolutions and is a continuation of the contents and spirit of past resolutions, said Wu, explaining China's "yes" vote on the draft resolution.

The Egyptian-drafted text won the support of 14 members of the Security Council, but was vetoed by the United States.

Wu called on the Security Council and the international community at large to remain united in an effort to de-escalate tensions concerning the status of Jerusalem for the sake of stability in the region and the Middle East peace process.

China has consistently supported and pushed forward the Middle East peace process, he said.

"We support the just cause of restoring the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, support the establishment of a fully sovereign, independent State of Palestine based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. Such a position of China will not change."

China will continue to push for a political settlement of the Jerusalem issue on the basis of a two-state solution, following the guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping's four-point proposal put forward in July, said Wu.

He called on the international community to adhere to relevant Security Council resolutions and strengthen their efforts for the resumption of negotiations in order to find a solution to key issues, including the final status of Jerusalem. Enditem