China said Tuesday it regretted Israel's plan to build new housing units in East Jerusalem, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.

China is deeply concerned about the ongoing stalemate in the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, and hopes that Israel will take a responsible attitude and careful action to create conditions for pushing forward the peace talks, Ma Zhaoxu told a regular news briefing.

Israel issued tenders for 238 new housing units for Jewish settlers in East Jerusalem last week. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas on Monday demanded Israel to show goodwill towards peace by halting settlement activities.