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 | Sunday, April 16, 2000, updated at 21:03(GMT+8) | ||||||||||||
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Palestinian Legislative Council Welcomes Chinese PresidentThe Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) held a meeting in Bethlehem Palestine Saturday to welcome Chinese President Jiang Zemin, who arrived in the city for a state visit to Palestine.In his speech, PLC Speaker Ahmed Qurei welcomed Jiang's visit, the first by a Chinese head of state to Palestine, saying the Palestinian people are very happy to greet President Jiang in the holy city of Bethlehem. The Palestinian people will never forget the lasting support the Chinese people and its leaders have provided since the beginning of the Palestinian revolution, and always appreciate their understandings for the Palestine cause, Qurei said. Palestinian President Yasser Arafat started his speech by hailing Jiang's visit as a historic event. The visit is of special significance because of the unique position China occupies in the hearts of the Palestinian people, Arafat said. China has offered strong support for the Palestinian people since the very beginning of their revolutionary cause, Arafat noted. Over the past four decades, China has become a symbol of lasting friendship both for the Palestinian people and its liberation movement, he said. Palestine has always conducted consultations with China at every historical juncture in the Palestinian cause, and China's support has enabled the Palestinian people to meet every challenge with more strength and ability, Arafat said. Jiang's visit came at a time when the Middle East peace entered its most sensitive and difficult stage, Arafat noted, citing the looming deadline for reaching a permanent peace between Palestine and Israel. The final resolution of the regional conflict needs a more businesslike attitude in the negotiations and especially stricter honoring of signed agreements, Arafat stressed. While adhering to their rights to establish an independent state and insisting on the implementation of signed peace agreements and relevant U.N. resolutions, the Palestinian people expect the whole international community including China to play a greater role in advancing the peace process, Arafat said. Arafat expressed his belief that China as a country with increasing international influence will continue to help the realization of peace based on relevant U.N. resolutions in the Middle East. The Palestinian president expressed satisfaction over the cooperation between China and Palestine in various fields, saying he is very glad to see that more and more Palestinian businessmen and entrepreneurs are establishing economic ties with their Chinese counterparts. Arafat extended congratulations to Jiang over the return of Hong Kong and Macao to the motherland of China, saying that the Palestinian people are joining China in expecting the full reunification of the country. Arafat reiterated that Palestine upholds the "One China" policy and supports China's policy of "One Country, Two Systems." Earlier in the day, Arafat held a ceremony at the presidential office to welcome Jiang. Palestine was the second leg of Jiang's five-nation state visit. The other four countries are Israel, Turkey, Greece and South Africa. During the visit, he will also meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Alexandria of Egypt.
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