At a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Hu said China pays close attention to the region's situation and the development of the peace process. He expressed China's deep sympathy with and worries over the bloody clashes between the Palestinians and Israel.

China firmly opposes and condemns Israel's use of violence against Palestinian civilians, Hu said, adding China has done its due effort as a member of the standing committee of the UN Security Council towards a relaxation of the region's tension.

The only way to solve the Mideast issue is through honest dialogs on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, the accords already reached between Arabs and Israelis, and the "land for peace" principle, Hu said.

Syria is an important party in the Mideast issue and if without it's participation, there will be no real peace in the region, he said.

China appreciates Syria's strategic decision of seeking solution to conflicts through negotiations, holding that the Golan Heights is an inalienable part of Syria's territory. Hu reiterated China's support to Syria's effort to retrieve its land occupied by Israel.

China will continue to firmly support Arabs' just cause and will make its contribution to the peace and stability in the region and the Mideast peace process, he said.

Bashar highly appreciated China's principled stand regarding the Mideast peace process, expressing his thanks for China's firm support to Arabs' just struggle and Syria's efforts to get back the occupied land.

On bilateral relations, the Chinese vice president said they have stood the test of history and volatile situations, only to become stronger and more stable. He described Sino-Syrian relations as a good example for the unity and cooperation between developing countries.

It has been proven that high-level exchanges and enhanced cooperation in various fields between the two countries are in keeping with the fundamental interests of the two peoples as well as conducive to peace and development of the region and the world as a whole, Hu pointed out.

He said that both China and Syria are developing countries who are faced with the same opportunities and challenges in the context of the world trend of political multi-polarization and economic globalization.

Strengthened and expanded bilateral cooperation and enhanced understanding, together with mutual trust and support, will help the two countries in playing their important roles in the establishment of a new political and economic order in the world, he said.

The Chinese Vice President said the world is experiencing the most profound changes since the Cold War. Although the overall international situation tends to be eased up, the forces of hegemony and power politics are still there, he said. And these forces, with the underpinning of their economic and hi-tech power, are attempting to gain control over the world, posing threat to regional and world peace and stability.

China and Syria, Hu continued, have identical or similar views on major international and regional issues. They used to have good cooperation in international affairs in the past and they will carry it on to the future, he added.

Echoing Hu's views, Bashar said Syria is willing to further its close relationship with China and expand cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples.

Bashar also vowed to support China's righteous struggle to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. He reiterated Syria's firm stance to respect the One-China principle and support China's great cause of reunification.

The Chinese vice president is on a three-day official visit to Syria. He had visited Iran in his five-nation visit, which will also take him to Jordan, Cyprus and Uganda.

(People's Daily 01/11/01)