China urges relevant countries to stop creating hurdles for Palestine to join the UN: FM spokesperson

China supports the United Nations General Assembly's (GA) latest resolution over Palestine and urges relevant countries to stop standing on the opposite side of the international community, international justice, and conscience of humanity, and to stop creating hurdles for Palestine to join the UN, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a press conference on Monday. 

The UNGA on Friday adopted a resolution supporting the Palestinian bid to become a full UN member by recognizing it as qualified to join and recommending that the Security Council "reconsider the matter favorably." The resolution was adopted with 143 votes in favor and nine against, including the US and Israel, while 25 countries abstained. China voted for the resolution.

The independent statehood has been a long-cherished aspiration of the Palestinian people and full membership in the UN is a crucial step in this historic process. It is the strong call of the international community and the common responsibility of all parties to support and advance the process of Palestine's independent statehood and provide strong support for the implementation of the two-State solution and lasting peace in the Middle East, Wang said. 

The GA Emergency Special Session adopted by an overwhelming majority a resolution to reaffirm the right of Palestinian people to self-determination, including the right to the Independent State of Palestine, determine that the State of Palestine is qualified for full membership in the UN, and recommend that the Security Council reconsider favorably its application to join the UN, Wang noted.  

This reflects the will of the international community, he said. 

Wang also urged relevant countries to stop standing on the opposite side of the international community, international justice, and conscience of humanity, and to stop creating hurdles for Palestine to join the UN. 

He said that the resolution includes modalities for Palestine's participation in UN activities and relevant meetings, granting it additional rights and privileges. These special modalities are a remedy for the historical injustice long endured by Palestine and a rectification of the US abusive use of veto. The resolution makes it clear that these modalities are adopted on an exceptional basis without setting a precedent.

We hope Palestine will become a full UN Member State soon and will enjoy full and equal rights in the UN like other Member States, Wang said.