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China's standpoints on Mideast welcomed by Israel

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-15 11:29

TEL AVIV, Israel  -- China's five standpoints on the current Middle East situation "are welcomed and accepted in principle" by the Israeli side, a Chinese envoy said Wednesday.

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Sun Bigan, China's special envoy on the Middle East issue, made the remarks in an exclusive briefing with Xinhua, hours after he held talks with Israeli officials on the latest developments of the embattled Gaza Strip.

Sun, who arrived in Israel Tuesday, said he put forward the five standpoints on the current Middle East situation during the talks.

"The five standpoints are welcomed and accepted in principle by the Israeli side," the Chinese envoy told Xinhua.

In the five standpoints, 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, Sun said.

Measures should be taken to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Sun said. He added that a stable channel for humanitarian supplies, including food, medicine and fuel, should be opened as soon as possible, and that the concerned parties 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, the Chinese envoy said.

He added that Palestinian-Israeli peace talks should resume at the earliest time.

Sun also said efforts should be made to seek a 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 the parties concerned and make unremitting efforts in this regard.

The five standpoints are welcomed and accepted in principle by the Israeli side, the Chinese envoy told Xinhua.

"China put forward the five standpoints after taking the current situation into account," Sun said, noting that the move is aimed at solving the Middle East issue both in the short term and in the long run.