Chinese President
Jiang Zemin on Saturday showed great concern about the
deteriorating situation in the Middle East and voiced support for
Palestine's efforts to salvage the peace process in the region.
In
a letter in reply to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Jiang said
the China supports all efforts towards seeking a peaceful solution
and wishes the two sides could take effective measures to get back
to the negotiation table.
Jiang said the Chinese government and people are sympathetic with
the difficult condition the Palestinian National Authority and its
people are facing.
China appreciates Palestine's bid to seek a cease-fire with Israel,
Jiang said.
Jiang said China opposes Israel's implementation of such measures
as military strikes, economic blockade, impairing the life of
Palestinian civilians and damaging their property, especially the
act of confining the freedom of movement of Arafat.
China supports all efforts towards seeking a peaceful solution to
the current Mideast crisis and wishes the two sides could practice
restraint and take effective measures to get back to the
negotiation table, Jiang stressed.
China is willing, in cooperation with the international community,
to play its due role in easing the tension in the Middle East, he
added.
(China
Daily January 28, 2002)