China voiced its support for the resumption of the Middle East peace process on Monday, calling upon all the parties concerned to create an environment conducive to the Middle East peace talks.

The statement came as Zhang Yesui, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, was speaking at an open Security Council meeting on behalf of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

Zhang Yesui, Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, speaks on behalf of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi during an open Security Council meeting on the Middle East issue at UN headquarters in New York, the U.S., May 11, 2009. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

"At present, the situation in the Middle East is at a very critical stage," Zhang said. "We hope that parties concerned will stay firm to their conviction of resolving the issue through political negotiations, refrain from moves that may ruin mutual trust and reconciliation so as to create the condition for resumptions of negotiation," Zhang said.

"Political negotiation is the only way to lasting peace in the Middle East. The use of force will not bring about peace. On the contrary, the cycle of violence will only exacerbate hatred," he said.

He said the Security Council Resolution 1860 is the result of arduous efforts by all the parties concerned, and brought about the Israeli-Palestinian cease-fire and created conditions for resumption of Middle East peace process. The resolution, adopted by the Security Council in January, called for mutually respected and last cease-fire in the Middle East following Israel's 22-day military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

It is hoped that the Resolution 1860 could be implemented comprehensively and effectively, said the ambassador.

"At the center of the Middle East problem is the Palestine issue," Zhang said. "The ultimate way out for the Palestinian issue is the realization of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace."

Therefore, the Chinese ambassador called on parties concerned to continue to act in the spirit enshrined in relevant UN resolutions and adhere to the principle of "the Land for Peace" and "the two-state solution," saying that they should push for the earlier achievement of reconciliation between Israel and Palestine, the establishment of an independent state of Palestine and the peaceful coexistence between Arabs and Jews.

The realization of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East depends on the settlement of all relevant issues in the region, he said.

Describing both the Syria-Israel talks and the Lebanon-Israel negotiations as "important components of the Middle-East peace process," Zhang called for a holistic approach to promote such talks.

Meanwhile, he said other hot-spot issues in the region should also be "properly addressed so as to create a favorable environment for the peace process."

On the other hand, "the Middle East peace process cannot be achieved without the help and support of the international community," Zhang said, calling on the international community to continue to support the development of Palestine and immediately implement its commitment to the reconstruction in Gaza.

"Parties concerned should uphold just and strengthen the mediation efforts and at the same time consider the establishment of a broadly-represented, balanced and effective multilateral mechanism which will provide oversight and support for the peace process in the Middle East," Zhang said.

Zhang said China supports the efforts of the Quartet, a diplomatic group of the United Nations, the European Union, Russia and the United States in search of the Middle East peace, and Russia's proposal to hold an international conference on Middle East in Moscow.

The open council meeting, chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov whose country holds the rotating presidency of the 15-nation council this month, came at a time when the new Israeli government was headed by hawkish Prime Minister Benjam Netanyahu.

Netanyhu has so far refused to publicly endorse the creation of an independent Palestine state, the key element of an international plan to bring about a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

Also present at the open debate are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, British Foreign Minister David Miliband, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and UN ambassadors from other Council members.

Israel, Palestine and Arab states were not invited to address the meeting.

Editor: Yan