China urges Israel to halt settlement activities

China on Wednesday urged Israel to be serious in halting all settlement activities immediately for resuming peace talks with Palestine.

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks at a meeting of the UN Security Council on the situation in the Middle East.

"The settlement issue is one of the major obstacles in the Middle East peace process," said Liu. "China's position on this issue is consistent and clear. We are opposed to Israel's settlement activities in east Jerusalem and other occupied Palestinian territories."

Liu noted that Israel should avoid taking actions that might further aggregate the conflict and create necessary conditions for building confidence between Palestine and Israel.

Dialogue and negotiation is the only way out, said Liu, adding that both parties should adhere to the strategic option for peace talks, resume peace talks as soon as possible, and move toward each other.

The Israelis and the Palestinians resumed peace talks in July 2013 after a three-year hiatus.

The talks were deadlocked in March this year and collapsed in April, with both sides accusing the other of failing to keep its commitments.

Israel wanted the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip demilitarized while Hamas demanded a lift to the blockade on the enclave.

"China has always supported the Palestinian people in their just demand and legitimate right to independent statehood, and will continue to work with the international community to play a positive and constructive role in pushing forward the Middle East peace process," said Liu.

"Relevant parties should enhance the sense of responsibility and urgency, uphold objectivity and impartiality, to vigorously promote peace and negotiation," he added.