China urges swift actions from U.N. Security Council on Middle East situation

China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Fu Cong on Monday urged the U.N. Security County to take all necessary actions as fast as possible to deal with the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Addressing a Security Council meeting, Fu said facts have proved that any delay of the U.N. Security Council only means greater damage and more civilian deaths and injuries.

After the United States vetoed a latest U.N. Security Council draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in the war-torn Gaza Strip on Nov. 20, hundreds of civilians have died and the situation is slipping to a more dangerous direction, Fu said.

Fu stressed that immediate effort should be made to achieve unconditional and long-lasting ceasefire, which is an important prerequisite for saving lives. He added that barriers to humanitarian aid access must be removed. The implementation of international humanitarian law is a non-negotiable obligation and cannot be used as a bargaining chip. Any unilateral attempts trying to undermine the two-state solution must be resisted.

Fu pointed out the U.N. Security Council must prevent a larger-scale regional conflict. The current situation in the Middle East is precarious. Israel must put aside its obsession with the use of force, stop its attacks against Lebanon, Syria, Iran and other countries, and stop its provocative and adventurous actions.

"The ongoing Gaza conflict is the biggest stress test the United Nations has ever faced in the Middle East. We believe it first tests the U.N. Security Council members' ability to save lives and maintain peace, the determination to uphold the international rule of law and justice, and the willingness to defend the authority of the U.N. Security Council mechanism and its resolutions," Fu said.

"So far, due to the negative attitude of some countries, the Security Council's performance in this test has been incompetent. We call on some countries to face up to their responsibilities and support the Security Council in using all the options in its toolbox to take further action to achieve an immediate ceasefire and restore peace," he said.

China urges swift actions from U.N. Security Council on Middle East situation

China urges swift actions from U.N. Security Council on Middle East situation

China urges swift actions from U.N. Security Council on Middle East situation

China urges swift actions from U.N. Security Council on Middle East situation

Chinese President Xi Jinping and visiting French President Emmanuel Macron held friendly exchanges on Friday in Dujiangyan in Chengdu, the capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Macron arrived in Chengdu on the previous evening for the second stop of his three-day state visit to China at the invitation of President Xi.

Upon their arrival in Chengdu, Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, were warmly received by Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan. Welcoming them to Sichuan, which is known in China as the "Land of Abundance", Xi recalled his visit last year to France's Hautes-Pyrenees Department at Macron's invitation. Xi said he believed that Macron's latest visit will help further deepen his understanding of China.

The two presidents together visited the more than two-millennia-old Dujiangyan irrigation system, a major water conservancy project located along the Minjiang River which was built during China's Warring States period (475-221 BC) and has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Xi noted that the Dujiangyan irrigation system is the world's only ancient irrigation project still in operation today, and also one of the earliest successful practices of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, adding that its construction process fully reflects the Chinese nation's spirit of constant self-improvement, fearlessness in the face of hardships, and courage to forge ahead.

Macron is set to conclude his state visit to China later on Friday, after having held talks with senior Chinese leaders in Beijing before traveling to Chengdu late on Thursday.

The French president is currently embarking on his fourth state visit to the country, with this being a reciprocal visit following President Xi's historic trip to France last year which came as the two sides marked the 60th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations.

The city of Chengdu also has a long-standing relationship with France. In 1981, Chengdu and France's Montpellier became the first pair of sister cities between the two countries.

Xi, Macron visit site of ancient irrigation system in Chengdu