Chinese Mideast envoy urges resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks

Visiting Chinese Middle East envoy Wu Sike on Wednesday met with Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor in Jerusalem. They discussed Sino-Israeli relations and the current status of the Middle East peace process.

China has consistently advocated that all concerned parties settle their differences through negotiations, and achieve comprehensive peace in this region, said Wu. The direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians, which started early September, is an important opportunity in the peace process, and has firm support from China, he added.

Wu said that China is deeply concerned about the present stalemate in the talks. Chinese government calls for efforts from all parties to show flexibility and compromise on various issues, including settlement construction, so as to put the negotiation back on track, reach a final-status agreement, and realize peaceful coexistence between Israel and the Palestinians, he said.

Meridor speaks highly of the active role China has played in promoting the Middle East peace process. Israel is now working to achieve the two-state solution, he said, adding that his government is willing to coordinate with other parties and find a solution to break the deadlock in direct talks.

Israel is the second leg of Wu's Middle East tour, which will take him also to Palestinian territories, Egypt and Turkey.

Israel and the Palestinians resumed direct negotiations on September 2 in the United States. However, the talks were halted when Israeli settlers restarted building in the West Bank after Sept. 26, when a 10-month settlement freeze ended. The Palestinian National Authority has made clear that it will enter the parley only if Israeli government extends the moratorium.

Source:Xinhua