BEIJING: China has come out in support of an independent Palestinian state and officially stated that a state based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital is the need of time.
“China understands the concerns of Islamic countries on the status of Jerusalem, supports the resolution of the status of Jerusalem in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions and international consensus,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said.
He made the remarks during his regular press briefing in Beijing while responding to a question about the adoption of a joint statement by the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) calling on the international community to recognise East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital.
He said he hoped the negotiations between Palestine and Israel would resume at an early date so as to promote a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestine issue.
United States President Donald Trump’s decision to shift US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem has sparked a strong response from within Palestine as well as Muslim countries.
The OIC on Wednesday declared East Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Palestine and invited all countries to recognise the state of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its capital.