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

Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, met with a delegation from the Social Democratic Party (PSD) of Portugal led by Hugo Soares, the secretary-general and the parliamentary leader of the party, in Beijing on Friday.

Li, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Portugal has been continuously deepened.

China is ready to strengthen exchanges between political parties and legislative bodies of the two countries, promote cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, and contribute to the sound and steady development of China-Portugal and China-EU relations, he said.

Li also briefed the delegation on the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

Soares said that Portugal firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields between the two countries through inter-party channels.

Senior Chinese legislator meets Portugal's PSD delegation