China backs Palestine's bid for UN observer state

China backs Palestine's bid to become a non-member observer state of the United Nations, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said Thursday.

Hong told a daily press briefing that China supports the Palestinian people's efforts to establish an independent state of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty, with East Jerusalem as its capital and based on the 1967 border.

"We understand, respect and support Palestine's bid as a UN observer state," he said.

The UN General Assembly will vote Thursday afternoon in New York on a resolution raising Palestine's status at the United Nations from an observer to a non-member observer state.

It is the Palestinians' legitimate right to establish an independent country, said Hong, adding that this is the basis of the two-state solution.

Meanwhile, China thinks that peaceful negotiation is the right path to finally realize the two-state solution, said Hong.

He called on both Palestine and Israel to solve outstanding issues through dialogue and negotiation.

Currently, Palestine is regarded as an observer "entity" at the United Nations. Acceptance of Palestine as a non-member state, similar to the Vatican's UN status, would implicitly recognize Palestinian statehood.

The upgrade could also grant the Palestinians access to bodies like the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where they could file complaints against Israel.

Israel and its closest ally, the United States, oppose the Palestinian move at the United Nations.