China is hosting a United Nations (UN) meeting to negotiate an end to one of the world's most bitter conflicts. Chinese assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu has called for a collective push to resume talks for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Ma underscored the importance of concerted efforts at the UN International Meeting in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace in Beijing on the morning of June 18.

An opportunity and a helping hand on the stagnant Middle East process. Ma called for more substantive measures to salvage the two-State solution.

"We should step up efforts to create conditions conducive to the resumption of peace talks. Palestinians have the inalienable right to sovereignty and independence. Israel's right to exist and its legitimate security concerns must also be respected," Ma said.

He reiterated China's blueprint for peace. Chinese President Xi Jinping offered a four-point proposal during meeting with the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Beijing in May.

The statement calls for the creation of a Palestinian state living in peace with Israel with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People organized the two-day seminar. Chairman Abdou Salam Diallo said he was worried about continued Israeli settlement expansion, which deepens mistrust and puts the two-State solution on life support.

"There's little reason for the Palestinian to pursue new agreements as long as Israel is allowed to get away with ignoring its existing commitments in the sphere of settlements, prisoners, and 1967 borders," Abdou Diallo said.

He called for the international society to go beyond rhetoric and consider practical steps to discourage settlement expansion.

A more active role in Middle East diplomacy marks a shift from China's long-held policy of non-intervention.

Even though China is not seeking to replace the U.S. as a mediator, participants say it's encouraging to see Beijing willing and able to help re-engage deadlocked peace talks.

Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to UN, said, "If China could continue to play an active role, it will contribute …… to realize the two state solutions."

Bassam Al-Salhi, Secretary General, Palestinian People's Party, said," China is an important power in the world……hopefully add some balance to the peace process in the Middle East."

The Palestinians have long struggled for their own state. This is their inalienable right. Decades of conflicts only prove that "land for peace" is the key political solution. And only mutual respect for each other's survival and security could bring this long-awaited peace.

(CNTV.cn June 18, 2013)