A Chinese envoy said Tuesday that it is imperative to resolve the Palestinian question, which lies at the heart of turmoil in the Middle East.

The Palestinian issue remains central to the Middle East, bearing on the region's peace and stability, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations. For over seven decades, the Palestinian-Israeli situation has repeatedly fallen into turmoil and war, shaping the international landscape, he told a high-level meeting of the Security Council.

The two-state solution is the only viable way to solve the Palestinian question, Geng noted, adding that several Western countries have recently recognized Palestinian statehood. The international community should sustain the current momentum, strive to revitalize the prospect for the two-state solution, and support the early establishment of an independent Palestinian state and its admission as a full member of the United Nations, said Geng.