China voiced its hope Thursday that internal conflicts in
Palestine would cease, calling on different Palestinian factions to
exercise restraint and jointly safeguard national interests.
China is concerned about the situation in the Palestinian region
and, as a friend of the Palestinian people, hopes various
Palestinian factions can maintain restraint, cease internal
conflicts and jointly safeguard national interests, said Foreign
Minister Yang Jiechi in his talks with his Palestinian counterpart
Ziad Abu Amr.
According to a written news release provided by the Chinese
Foreign Ministry, Yang also urged "the concerned parties" to
"jointly adopt positive measures" to establish mutual trust and
create conditions to resume Palestine-Israel peace talks at an
early date.
China supports "the Arab peace initiative" and other
peace-promoting efforts made by the international community and
will play a constructive role in promoting Palestine-Israel peace
talks and the overall resolution of the Middle East issue, Yang
said.
The Arab Peace Initiative, first proposed in 2002, and recently
revived, offers Israel full recognition in exchange for withdrawal
from all territories it occupied in the war and a just solution for
Palestinian refugees.
On China-Palestine relations, Yang said that the country will
continue its support for Palestinian people to resume their
legitimate national rights and promote long-term bilateral friendly
cooperation.
China is willing to join hands with the Palestinian side to push
forward the comprehensive development of bilateral relations, Yang
vowed.
Abu Amr briefed Yang about the latest development in Palestine
and the Palestine-Israel peace process. He also expressed
appreciation of China's long-term and firm support to Palestine.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international
issues of common concern.
Since Monday, Fatah and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip have
been fighting each other, leaving more than 50 people dead and
about 100 others injured.
The infighting is spiraling toward all-out civil war in the Gaza
Strip and endangers the current national unity government, which
took office on March 17.
Abu Amr arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for an official visit
from June 13 to 15 at the invitation of Yang.
(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2007)
