Xi makes proposal for Middle East talks

Chinese President Xi Jinping here on Monday made a four-point proposal for the settlement of the Palestinian question during his talks with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The four-point proposal is as follows:

First, the right direction to follow should be an independent Palestinian State and peaceful co-existence of Palestine and Israel. To establish an independent state enjoying full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital is an inalienable right of the Palestinian people and the key to the settlement of the Palestinian question. At the same time, Israel's right to exist and its legitimate security concerns should also be fully respected.

Second, negotiation should be taken as the only way to peace between Palestine and Israel. The two sides should follow the trend of the times, pursue peace talks, show mutual understanding and accommodation, and meet each other half way. The immediate priority is to take credible steps to stop settlement activities, end violence against innocent civilians, lift the blockade of the Gaza Strip and properly handle the issue of Palestinian prisoners in order to create the necessary conditions for the resumption of peace talks. Comprehensive internal reconciliation on the part of Palestine will help restart and advance the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.

Third, principles such as "land for peace" should be firmly upheld. The parties concerned ought to build on the existing achievements that include the principle of "land for peace," the relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative to advance the Middle East peace process across the board.

Fourth, the international community should provide important guarantee for progress in the peace process. Relevant parties of the international community should have a greater sense of responsibility and urgency, take an objective and fair position, make vigorous efforts to encourage talks for peace, and increase assistance to Palestine in such fields as human resources training and economic development.