China and Egypt agreed on Monday that both countries should
strengthen bilateral consultations and coordination on major
international and regional issues, the Middle East peace process in
particular.
Meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Abul Gheit in
Washington, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said that the
convening of the Middle East conference, to be held in Annapolis,
Maryland, on Tuesday, is the result of joint efforts by all parties
concerned.
It reflects the wishes of the international community to find a
solution to the final status of Palestine through negotiations and
establish an independent Palestinian state living side by side in
peace with Israel, Yang said.
The international community should encourage Israelis and
Palestinians to rebuild mutual trust through continuous peace talks
and speed up negotiations on the final status issues on the basis
of relevant UN resolutions, the land for peace principle, the
Middle East roadmap peace plan and the Arab peace initiative, he
said.
China, which shares similar views and common interests with
Egypt on many international and regional issues, is willing to keep
frequent communications with the Egyptian side and make joint
efforts in moving the peace process forward, the Chinese foreign
minister said.
Gheit said that Tuesday's Middle East conference in Annapolis is
essential for peace process in the region.
He said that both Israelis and Palestinians should seize the
opportunity to build mutual trust and kick off serious negotiations
so that a peace agreement could be reached at an earlier date.
As a major nation of influence in the world, the Egyptian
minister said, China should play an important role on the Middle
East peace issue. He said that Egypt is willing to enhance
exchanges and coordination with China on the Middle East peace
process.
Yang and Gheit, both are here to attend the Annapolis
conference, also expressed satisfactions over the overall
development of bilateral relationship and agreed to further
strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two
countries.
?
(Xinhua News Agency November 27, 2007)
