Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan made the remarks on November 9 when meeting with Arabian envoys to China. Tang also sent a message to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressing his view.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ji Peiding also expounded the Chinese government's stance on the Middle East situation Wednesday when meeting with envoys of the four permanent members of the UN Security Council to China and Israeli ambassador to China.

Both Tang and Ji said that the Chinese government is highly concerned over the ongoing violent conflict between Israel and Palestine, and the massive number of Palestinian civilian casualties caused by Israel.

Israeli-Palestine conflict has lasted one month, the Middle East peace process thus suffered setbacks, and the region is uncertain, they noted, adding that the situation runs counter to the previous proposals of the two sides taking peace as the strategic choice.

They said that the Chinese government has urged the two sides to restrain from violence so as to avoid escalation in the conflict.

They noted that the UN, especially permanent members of the UN Security Council, bear the responsibility of safeguarding world peace and stability, and should take effective measures to relieve the tension and help restore and improve the Middle East peace process.

China, they said, as a permanent member of the UN security council, is ready to work with the international community to push forward a just and reasonable settlement of the Middle East issue.

Arabian envoys to China informed Tang of the current situation in the Middle East region, and expressed gratitude and appreciation for the stance of the Chinese government on the current Israeli-Palestinians conflict, and hoped that China will play a bigger role in Middle Eastern affairs.

Israeli ambassador also expounded the Israeli-Palestinians conflict, and Israel's stance.

The envoys of the four permanent members of the UN Security Council noted that they will inform their own governments on the stance of the Chinese government, and is ready to maintain frequent consultations with China.

(People's Daily 11/10/2000)