Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue Monday said China strongly condemned the suicide bombings in Israel, and harshly opposed the ongoing Israeli military acts in Palestinian land, especially its siege of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

She said China was deeply worried about the escalation in the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

"China has continuously reaffirmed that using violence to confront violence will not settle any problem and only stir up more hatred," Zhang said.

She said China acknowledged that President Arafat had made a statement in which he urged all Palestinian military groups to stop violent acts against Israel.

The international community has urged Israel to end its siege and destruction of Arafat's headquarters, she added.

"China appealed to Israel to halt its military operation immediately in response to the voice of the international community, to end the siege of Arafat's compound and guarantee the personal safety of the president, to create conditions for the resumption of peace talks," Zhang said.

In another foreign ministry statement, China congratulated German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder following the narrow election victory by his Social Democratic Party and Green Party in national polls.

"The Chinese Government will make efforts with the German Government led by Chancellor Schroeder to promote the development of friendly relations between the two countries to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Germany," she said.

German Chancellor Schroeder won Sunday's election with a reduced majority of just nine over the combined opposition parties, down from 21 in the last election.

(China Daily September 24, 2002)