China on Wednesday called on the international community to offer assistance and support to the Middle East peace process.

"Under the current circumstances, it is of particular importance for the international community to ensure extensive participation in and effective support for the Middle East peace process," Sha Zukang, the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said at the 61st annual session of the Commission on Human Rights.

The never-ending deadlock of the Middle East issue not only endangers peace and stability in the region, but also threatens the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people of the region, said Sha, who is also head of the Chinese delegation to the session of the principal UN human rights body.

"Fortunately, in recent months, some positive trends have emerged in the Middle East... The Chinese side sincerely hopes that the two sides will seize the momentum and persevere in their peace efforts, not allowing individual cases of violence to derail such efforts, so as to make new progress in the Middle East peace process," he added.

As the Commission has conducted in-depth discussions on the Mideast issue and adopted relevant resolutions every year, Sha urged the whole international community to continue to uphold the purposes and principles contained in the UN Charter, the relevant resolutions adopted by the UN General Assembly, the UN Security Council as well as this Commission, and take effective measures to facilitate an early, fair and just solution to the Middle East and Palestinian issue.

"As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has all along supported the Middle East peace process and made unremitting efforts to help defuse tensions in the region and promote the constant progress of peace in the Middle East," said the ambassador.

"At the end of last year, the Chinese representative visited Palestine and Israel and put forward China's four-point proposal on the Middle East issue. China also attended the London Conference in support of the Palestinian National Authority," he added.

He reiterated China's position on the issue and expressed China's wish that a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East be realized.