On November 24, 2008, a UN meeting in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was held at the Untied Nations headquarters in New York. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao sent a congratulatory message on the opening of the meeting. The full text of the message is as follows:

I would like to extend my warm congratulations to the opening of the meeting in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on behalf of the Chinese government.

The Palestinian issue is the core of the Mideast problem. China staunchly supports the restoration of the legal rights of the Palestinian people as well as the Mideast peace process. China hopes that Palestine and Israel would stick to the path of peaceful negotiations on the basis of relevant UN resolutions and the "Land for Peace" principle to establish an independent Palestinian state at an early date, so as to realize peaceful coexistence between the Israeli and Palestinian states, it said.

To resolve the Palestinian issue at an early date is the aspiration of the people in the Mideast as well as the common expectation of the international community. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China will continue to support the United Nations in playing an important role in solving the Mideast problem and pushing forward the settlement of the Palestinian issue. The Chinese government will also work with the international community to make unremitting contributions to peace, stability and development in the Mideast.