Chinese Ambassador to Israel Zhan Yongxin is interviewed by Xinhua News Agency in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Aug. 21, 2017. The proposal "highlights the unique advantage of Chinese wisdom in resolving international disputes and attests that China increasingly takes initiative to live up to its responsibilities as a major power under the new circumstances," Zhan told Xinhua in a recent interview. (Xinhua/Guo Yu)
by Xinhua writer Fan Xiaolin
TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The four-point proposal made recently by Chinese President Xi Jinping for resolving the Palestinian issue indicates that China stands ready to make fresh efforts toward promoting Israeli-Palestinian peace, Chinese Ambassador to Israel Zhan Yongxin has said.
The proposal "highlights the unique advantage of Chinese wisdom in resolving international disputes and attests that China increasingly takes initiative to live up to its responsibilities as a major power under the new circumstances," Zhan told Xinhua in a recent interview.
At a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing in July, President Xi put forward the four-point proposal for promoting the settlement of the Palestinian issue.
Xi proposed firmly advancing a political settlement based on the two-state solution, adopting the concept of common, integrated, cooperative and sustainable security, further coordinating the efforts of the international community and enhancing synergy of peace efforts, and taking integrated measures in order to promote peace via development.
Zhan noted that Xi's proposal is not only a continuation of China's consistent policies of playing a constructive role in promoting Israeli-Palestinian peace, but also a bid to contribute China's wisdom and solution to promoting peace under the current situation.
"As a staunch supporter of Israeli-Palestinian peace and a sincere mediator, China has over the years been concerned with and attached great importance to the Israeli-Palestinian issue," the Chinese ambassador said.
Even though this issue has been on the edge of being marginalized during recent years, China has repeatedly emphasized that it "can't be overlooked at any time and its resolution must be a top priority," he added.
In recent years, China has intensified its engagement in the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian issue, Zhan said, citing China's active participation in various peace efforts by the international community and its proposal for facilitating cooperation and development between Israel and Palestine while pushing for peace between the two sides politically.
Recent years have witnessed the China-Israel relations starting to enter the track of healthy and steady development, with fruitful achievements made in practical bilateral cooperation in various fields and an innovative comprehensive partnership established between the two sides, Zhan said.
"Given the long-term far-reaching impact of the Israeli-Palestinian issue on the situation in the Middle East, realizing the vision of the two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side and co-existing in peace at an early date is not only relevant to the wellbeing of the two parties and the international community, but also conducive to further development of the China-Israel relations in the future," Zhan said.
The Chinese envoy said he has extensively promoted President Xi's four-point peace proposal recently and has received a positive response from the Israeli side.
In the next phase, Zhan said, China will continue to work with the international community for the cessation of violence and resumption of the peace talks between Israel and Palestine as soon as possible.
This will make contribution to the early comprehensive, just and lasting solution of the Israeli-Palestinian issue, as well as peace, stability and development in the Middle East, he added.
