China is open to a US-proposed international meeting to discuss
the Middle East peace process slated for later this year in
Annapolis of the United States, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said
on Wednesday.
China will actively join all the international efforts that are
helpful for the Middle East peace process, strengthen communication
and coordination with relevant sides, and play a constructive role
as always, Tang said when meeting with Middle East Quartet Envoy
Tony Blair.
Blair said the Middle East issue is of vital importance to
regional and world stability. The international meeting will play
an important role in promoting Palestine-Israel peace talks and
restart the peace process, and he hopes relevant sides can grasp
the opportunity and make more efforts to promote the peace
process.
The meeting, proposed by US President George W. Bush in July, is
designed to include Israel, the Palestinian National Authority and
some Arab nations to help revive the stalled Middle East peace
talks.
Tang said the prolonged solution of the Middle East issue not
only affects peace and stability in the region, but also world
peace and development.
"China supports the ongoing consultations and negotiations
between Palestine and Israel, and hopes the two sides can continue
dialogues and achieve substantial results as soon as possible," he
said.
He also called for an early, fair and rational resolution of the
Middle East issue with broad participation from the international
community and relevant sides.
Tang also spoke highly of the efforts Blair has made to promote
the China-Britain relations during his term as former British Prime
Minister.
Blair, envoy of the Quartet namely the UN, the EU, the US and
Russia, is in China for a business meeting of the Boao Forum for
Asia.
(Xinhua News Agency November 7, 2007)
