Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji sent a congratulatory message on Thursday to a conference in New York honoring the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
"On the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, I wish to extend, on behalf of the Chinese Government and people, our warm congratulations to the conference," Zhu said in the message.
He noted that the tension between Israel and Palestine was still going on, and the Palestinian territories have long suffered from economic blockade and military attacks.
"The Chinese Government and people express deep sympathy for the Palestinian people who are in difficulties and hardships," the Chinese premier said, "We oppose and condemn Israel's act of disregarding the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and the call on Israel to withdraw its troops from the Palestinian controlled areas and end the economic blockade as soon as possible."
He said China has all along maintained that the solution to the Palestinian question should be based on relevant UN resolutions and the principle of "land for peace," and "the only correct approach to realize lasting peace in the Middle East is the political settlement of the issue through peaceful negotiations."
China sticks to the view that the occupied Arab territories should be returned and the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, including that to establish an independent Palestinian state, should be restored at an early date, he noted.
At the same time, Zhu said, China opposes "terrorist activities of all forms" and maintains that "the sovereignty and security of all the Middle East countries should be effectively guaranteed."
He urged the international community to give more attention to the Palestinian question, make greater efforts to ease the tension there, help the Palestinian people out of the current predicament and create conditions for the re-launch of the Middle East peace process.
He assured that "China is, as always, ready to work with the international community to play a constructive role in bringing about an early peaceful settlement to the Middle East question, including the Palestinian question."
(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2002)
