China formally announces its support for a Palestinian state

China, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, on Thursday formally announced it would support a unilateral Palestinian declaration of statehood at the U.N. in September.

China's Special Envoy to the Middle East, Wu Sike, stressed that the issue of a Palestinian state sits at “the core” of the Middle East conflict, a Chinese Foreign Ministry press release said.

Wu on Wednesday met with Tayeb Abed Al Rahim, the secretary-general of the presidency of the Palestinian Authority, and Yasser Abed Rabbo, secretary-general of the PLO Executive Committee, in the West Bank.

“The Chinese government and its people firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people to regain their legitimate national rights and interests and support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and with full sovereignty,” the press release said.

The statement added that Rahim and Abed Rabbo both expressed their appreciation for “the long-term valuable support the Chinese side has provided for the Palestinian issue.”

During a meeting with Palestinian Authority representatives in Ramallah on Thursday, another Chinese Foreign Ministry official said, “The Chinese people have always supported the Palestinian position on the establishment of their own independent state.”

China's announcement comes a week after Chinese Chief of Staff Gen. Chen Bingde visited Israel and discussed developments in the Middle East with his Israeli counterpart, Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

In a separate meeting Thursday, three Arab Knesset members asked 13 ambassadors and diplomats from African countries to support the declaration of Palestinian statehood. “The African people have suffered oppression and occupation and have fought for freedom and so their support of a Palestinian state has moral significance,” MK Ahmad Tibi (Ra'am Ta'al) said during the meeting. The ambassadors responded that a “recommendation has been made by the African Union to support the [Palestinian] request.”

Meanwhile, El Salvador on Thursday also recognized an independent Palestinian state, joining a host of other Latin American countries who have declared their intent to support the statehood bid at the U.N.

“This decision was made in the context of the profound respect El Salvador has for sovereign decisions by members of the United Nations, the majority of whom have recognized the Palestinian state,” Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes was quoted by Reuters as saying during a news conference.

Funes told reporters he hoped that his decision would help cultivate peace in Israel, and said he also supported Israel's right to secure its borders.

To date, about 120 countries have recognized a Palestinian state, according to Reuters.

Abbas plans to bring the Palestinian bid before the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 21, and has been touring Europe and elsewhere to drum up international support for the plan.

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