UN Palestine Meeting Convenes in Beijing

　　A UN conference in support of a two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict convened 1 in Beijing on Tuesday.
 
　　The meeting will review the current situation and revive international efforts to re-start stagnant 2 peace talks between the two sides.
 
　　CRI's Su Yi has more.
 
　　At the opening of the UN meeting, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco spoke 3 on behalf of UN secretary General Ban Ki Moon.
 
　　In his speech he appealed for international attention on the Palestinian issue, the resolution of which he said is "not a matter of less urgency."
 
　　"It is the firm view of the United Nations secretariat that achieving a two-State solution is more urgent than ever in the increasingly unstable 4 regional context, and that negotiations 5 remain the only way towards that end."
 
　　The UN official warned that despite last November's ceasefire, understanding between both sides remains 6 the best opportunity to change the negative dynamics 7 in Gaza.
 
　　He added that the ongoing 8 conflict in Syria could bring about dangerous efforts to the region.
 
　　He contends renewed negotiations have been jeopardized 9 by an expanding Israeli settlement.
 
　　Those settlements increased 176-percent in the first quarter of this year, compared with the same period last year.
 
　　Chinese assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu highlighted practical steps that need to be taken:
 
　　"The immediate 10 priority is to take credible 11 steps to stop settlement activities, end violence against innocent civilians 12, lift the blockade of the Gaza strip and properly handle the issue of Palestinian prisoners in order to remove obstacles and foster a good atmosphere for peaceful talks."
 
　　The UN meeting comes a month after China separately hosted the Palestinian President and the Israeli Prime Minister in May.
 
　　As a result of the meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping put up a "four point" proposal including a two state solution within the 1967 borders.
 
　　Such a solution would include Palestinian capital situated 13 in East Jerusalem and the legitimate 14 security concerns of Israel being respected, as well as direct pressure from the international community for peace.
 
　　Wu Sike, is Chinese special envoy 15 on the Middle East.
 
　　He says the continuity in meetings demonstrates China's contribution in helping 16 solve the issue as a 'responsible' country.
 
　　However he says he does not intend to replace other super powers in dealing 17 with international concerns:
 
　　"I've repeated this several times that China does not have the intention of ruling out other international effort in the Middle East issue, which also brings no benefit to China itself. The Palestinian issue is conflicted and needed to be solved by concerted effort rather than any single country, even the US. To host this meeting represents that China welcomes the UN to play a bigger role to bring peace into the region."
 
　　The two day meeting is organized by the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
 
　　Audiences include committee members and observers from over 40 governments and intergovernmental organizations.
 

　　For CRI, this is Su Yi.