Jiang Hopes Arafat to Declare Statehood at "Appropriate Time"

President Jiang Meets Arafat

Chinese President Jiang Zemin told visiting Palestinian President Yasser Arafat Monday that China believes that the Palestinian National Authority led by Arafat will choose "the appropriate moment" to declare statehood.

"We believe that the Palestinian National Authority led by Arafat will make a correct assessment of the situation and declare Palestine a state at the appropriate moment to achieve the best possible result," Jiang was quoted by a spokesman of the Foreign Ministry as saying at this seaside resort 300 kilometers east of Beijing.

The Chinese president said China will, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, continue to work with the international community for an overall, just and long-term settlement of the Palestinian issue and other Middle East issues.

Jiang said it is always the belief of China that the Palestinian people enjoy the right of self-determination on national issues including the right to establish their own state.

It is the duty of the international community and the decision of relevant UN resolutions that the world should support and help the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, including returning to their homeland and building an independent state, Jiang stressed.

China respects the choice of the Palestinian people, and recognized the State of Palestine as early as in 1988, and subsequently established diplomatic relations with it.

"Whatever changes happen in the Middle East, the Chinese Government and people will always support any decision of the Palestinian National Authority so long as it serves the national interest and the just cause of the Palestinian people," Jiang told Arafat.

Arafat expressed thanks for China's consistent support on the just cause of the Palestinian people as well as for the active efforts China made for the Middle East peace process.