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Chinese envoy, Israeli president meet on Gaza situation

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-14 23:18

JERUSALEM - Visiting China's special envoy on the Middle East issue Sun Bigan held talks here on Wednesday with Israeli President Shimon Peres on the latest developments of Gaza Strip, which has been under intensive Israeli attacks in the past 19 days.

During the meeting with Peres, Sun, who arrived in Israel on Tuesday, put forward five standpoints of the Chinese government on the current Middle East situation, particularly on the Gaza crisis.

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Sun said China calls on all parties concerned to abide by the UN Security Council Resolution 1860 and cease all military actions immediately to avert more casualties.

"Measures should be taken to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza," said Sun, adding a stable channel for supply of humanitarian aid including food, medicine and fuel for Gaza should be open at the earliest time possible, and parties concerned should provide the necessary guarantee in this regard.

Parties concerned should establish, through negotiation, a ceasefire monitoring mechanism in Gaza and work to create durable security and stability there, said the Chinese envoy.

He added that the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks should resume at the earliest time, and efforts should be made to seek solution to issues related to the final status of the Palestinian territories on the basis of mutual trust, so that an independent Palestinian state will be established as early as possible and the "two states" of Palestine and Israel will coexist peacefully.

Finally, the international community should increase mediating efforts for peace and promote a comprehensive, just and durable settlement of the Middle East issue, said Sun, adding that China is ready to work with parties concerned and make unremitting efforts in this regard.

China understands Israel's concern for security, said the Chinese envoy, noting that it has been proved by history that use of force does not lead to absolute security.

China hopes Israel responds actively to the peacemaking efforts made by the international community, eases up the situation as quickly as possible and creates conditions for the Middle East peace process to return to the track of political solution, said Sun.

Peres praised China for its efforts to ease up the current Middle East situation, saying that Israel attaches importance to the standpoints of the Chinese government and is willing to maintain close contact with China.

On Monday, Sun held talks in Cairo with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit on the latest developments of Gaza.

The two sides exchanged opinions on the Gaza crisis and vowed to work together to help ease the tension in the Palestinian enclave, Sun said during a press conference at the Chinese embassy in Cairo on Monday evening.

Abul Gheit briefed Sun the current situation in Gaza and stressed that Egypt would exert more efforts to help reach a ceasefire in the besieged coastal strip, said the Chinese envoy.

Earlier on Monday, Sun also had talks with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa and Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman on the Gaza situation, calling on all parties concerned to abide by UN Security Council resolution 1860 and cease all military actions immediately and take measures to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

After his visit to Egypt and Israel, Sun will head for the Palestinian territories for talks with parties concerned on the Gaza situation and explain the Chinese standpoints.