RAMALLAH, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah on Thursday called on Asian countries to support the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to help it uphold its operations.

Hamdallah addressed the opening of the third Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development (CEAPAD) at his West Bank Ramallah Office, stressing the importance of supporting UNRWA in light of the recent U.S. decision to cut its funds to the agency.

"The ultimate goal of the peace process is to end the Israeli military occupation completely and build an independent Palestinian State on the borders of 1967 with East Jerusalem as it's capital and a resolution of the refugees issue in line with the UN resolution 194 and the Arab Peace Initiative," said Hamdallah.

The Palestinian prime minister thanked the countries of East Asia for their support of Palestine.

This is the first time CEAPAD is held in the Palestinian Territories. The CEAPAD was initiated by Japan with the first conference held in Tokyo in February of 2013.