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Chinese FM Phones Arafat & Israeli FM
Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan made a phone call Thursday here to Yasser Arafat, president of Palestine, after talking with Israeli Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres on the phone, at the request of Israel.
In both calls, Tang elaborated the position and viewpoints of the Chinese government on the current situation in the Middle East, urging both sides to cooperate with the mediation efforts of the international community and take actions helpful for easing the tension in the region.
He said the Israel-Palestine conflict has lasted for eight months, which has caused many deaths, casualties and material losses, and resulted in disturbance of the situation in the Middle East.
"All these are not in the interests of the parties concerned," he said, noting that facts have proved that force and confrontation only intensify the hatred and animosity between Israel and Palestine, while dialogue and negotiation between them are the right approach to the resolution of disputes.
What is crucial is that both sides should remain cool and act with restraint, cooperate with the mediation efforts of the international community and take actions helpful for easing the tension in the region, so as to create favorable conditions for an early resumption of peace talks, Tang emphasized.
He stressed that China seeks no selfish interest of its own concerning the Middle East issue; instead, it will, as always, remain impartial and assume a position in accordance with the facts.
China firmly supports the peace process in the Middle East, and is reluctant to see the ten years of efforts which have been put into the peace talks cast to winds, he said.
China believes the resolutions on the Middle East made by the United Nations and the principle of "land for peace" is the basis for Middle East peace, and the parties concerned should faithfully carry out all agreements and understandings they have reached, which is the precondition for rebuilding mutual trust, he noted.
On the other hand, China opposes force and economic blockade against Palestine, and it opposes any terrorist activities aimed at civilians.
In the meantime, China supports all mediation efforts by the international community beneficial to easing regional tension, and China has and will continue to make its due efforts in this regard, he said.
Tang also extended President Jiang Zemin's sincere regards and good wishes to Arafat, reiterating that China, as always, will continue to support the just cause of the Palestinian people.
Arafat and Peres briefed Tang on the current situation in the Middle East, and their respective positions on the issue.
Both of them extended their appreciation for China's efforts to help resolve the Middle East conflict, hoping that China could play a more important role in easing the tension in the region as well as in resuming peace talks between Palestine and Israel.
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