China's Special Envoy to the Middle-East, Sun Bigan, met with Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Arab Affairs Hani Khallaf on Sunday, both of them calling for a return to the negotiating table by all parties involved the Middle East peace process, specifically with regard to brokering a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine.?

Sun urged all sides to stick to a path of peaceful negotiation no matter what.

Sun explained China's stance on the Palestinian-Israeli situation, and praised Egypt's efforts to forge closer unity among Palestinians, an action conducive to the smooth progress of the Middle-East peace process.

For his part, Khallaf spoke highly of China's impartial stance on the Middle-East issue, adding that Egypt saw China as a vital partner in securing lasting peace and negotiation in the region. He expressed his country's desire to forge closer links with China in this regard.

Sun, currently on a three-day visit to Egypt, is also set to meet with Arab League Secretary General Amir Moussa on Monday.

Sun's whistle-stop tour to Egypt will also take him to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories.

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2007)