China urged Israel on Tuesday to act cautiously and to take effective measures to push forward an early resumption of peace talks with Palestine.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak Monday approved the construction of 366 housing units in several Jewish settlements on the West Bank, news service Ynet reported. The Palestinian side Sunday stressed it would not return to the negotiating table before Israel stopped building.

"Any new construction or expansion would damage the foundation of resuming peaceful talks," said Jiang Yu, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson at a regular press conference.

Jiang said the international community had made every efforts to resume peace talks, and hoped Israel would create the right conditions for it.

(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2009)