Palestine's successful bid to be recognized as a UN non-member observer state is "a positive step" on the road of establishing itself as an independent state, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Friday.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei. [File Photo]

Hong Lei made the remarks in a press release issued Friday morning, hours after the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to upgrade Palestine's status in the United Nations from "entity" to "non-member state."

"This shows that the Palestinian people's just cause of restoring their lawful national rights has gotten more extensive support from the international community," said Hong.

He said China voted in favor of the draft resolution along with many other UN member states.

China has always advocated that the establishment of Palestine as an independent state is the legitimate right of the Palestinian people, said Hong, adding that this is the basis and prerequisite for realizing the peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel.

He said China will continue to make positive and constructive efforts toward the comprehensive and fair settlement of the Palestinian issue.

The 193 UN member states voted 138 to 9, with 41 abstentions, to support a draft resolution co-sponsored by about 70 countries.