China backs UNSC reconsidering Palestine’s membership, urges US not to block process

United Nations, May 11 (FN Agency) Beijing is in favour of the UN Security Council reconsidering Palestine’s full membership at the United Nations and urges the US not to block this process, the Chinese Ambassador to the UN Fu Cong said on Friday. “China supports the Security Council’s early reconsideration of the application of the State of Palestine as mandated by the GA resolution, and expects the relevant country to not create further delays or hurdles,” Fu told the UN General Assembly Hall.

Earlier in the day, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution recognising Palestine as qualified to join the world organisation in a 143-9 vote with 25 abstentions, having more rights incorporated within its membership status as a “Permanent Observer State.” In April, the United States vetoed an Algerian resolution at the UN Security Council recommending that the General Assembly admit Palestine to the UN. The United Kingdom and Switzerland abstained. The remaining members of the UN Security Council voted in favour.Palestine has held permanent observer status at the UN since 2012, while Israel has been a full member of the organisation since 1948.