China calls on Israel, Palestine to respond to intl peace appeal

A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called on Israel and Palestine to actively respond to the peace appeal by the international community, including China's proposal on settling the conflict.

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks here at an informal plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly on the situation in Gaza.

"The conflict in Gaza has lasted for four weeks, resulting in large number of casualties of civilians and severe humanitarian crisis. This is of deep concern to China and China deplores such a situation," Liu told the meeting.

China's special envoy for Middle East made two visits to the region within one month to actively promote the realization of ceasefire and resumption of talks between Israel and Palestine, he noted.

On Aug. 3, Liu said, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Egypt and exchanged views with leaders of the country and secretary-general of the Arab League on the promotion of ceasefire and cessation of violence between Israel and Palestine. He also put forward a peace proposal on settling the conflict.

"This five-point peace proposal is a further elaboration under the current circumstances of the four-point proposal made by China 's President Xi Jinping in 2013 on the settlement of the Palestinian issue," said the Chinese envoy.

"We hope that Israel and Palestine will actively respond to the appeal for peace by the international community," he said.

China welcomes the fact that both parties have agreed to a 72- hour ceasefire and to engage in talks for a long-term ceasefire, and hopes that they would reach an agreement on a durable ceasefire as soon as possible, Liu said.

"China will continue, with the rest of the international community, to play an active and constructive role for an early end to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, for the comprehensive and just resolution of the Palestinian issue, and for the lasting peace in the Middle East region," he pledged.