Berlin, 11 Nov (ZXS) -- Vienna: Li Song, China's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), led a delegation to attend the IAEA's Board of Governors in November on 22 November and spoke on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Israeli nuclear issue.
Li Song said that the conflict in Gaza has lasted for more than a month, and China has been actively promoting peace talks, providing humanitarian assistance, and actively promoting a ceasefire and ending hostilities. Last week, China, as the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, presided over the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2712. This week, a joint delegation of foreign ministers of Arab and Islamic countries visited China. Yesterday, President Xi Jinping attended a special video summit of BRICS leaders on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, stressing that the top priority is to immediately cease the fire and cease the fighting to avoid further suffering of human lives. We need to ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access channels, provide more humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza, and stop the collective punishment of the people in Gaza; The international community should take concrete measures to prevent the expansion of the conflict and affect the stability of the entire Middle East region. The fundamental way to resolve the cycle of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is to implement the two-state solution. Without a just solution to the question of Palestine, there can be no lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. China calls for the convening of a more authoritative international peace conference as soon as possible to promote a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question at an early date.
Li Song stressed that the Middle East region should not be threatened by nuclear weapons, which is the universal call of regional countries. China has always actively supported the efforts of countries in the Middle East to promote the establishment of a zone free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East. The current developments have heightened the international community's concern about the Israeli nuclear issue. This issue should be given greater attention and seriously discussed within the framework of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Israel should accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as a non-nuclear-weapon State as soon as possible and place all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive IAEA safeguards. The countries of the region concerned and the nuclear-weapon States should earnestly assume their responsibilities and participate in the process of establishing a zone free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East within the framework of the United Nations. China encourages all parties to step up diplomatic efforts to find solutions through dialogue and consultation, so as to contribute to upholding the authority and effectiveness of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and maintaining peace, security and stability in the Middle East. (ENDS)