During his Middle East tour, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Sunday put out a five-point proposal to push forward the Middle East peace process and common development.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem (R) and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi hold a joint press conference after their meeting in Damascus, April 26, 2009. [Xinhua]

Yang, who has visited Egypt, the Palestinian territories, Israel and Syria, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua that China has been closely following the situation in the Middle East and he has made in-depth exchanges of views with concerned parties on various issues of the region during his Middle East visit.

The Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip at the end of 2008 has brought heavy casualties and instability to the region, which shows once again that if the Middle East issue is not been fundamentally solved, there will be no peace and security in this region, he said.

Currently, Israel has formed a new government and the two main Palestinian factions have been holding talks under the mediation of Egypt. Under such circumstances, Yang put the five-point proposal, which includes:

First, the concerned parties should adhere to the peace talks, and firmly promote the peace process on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, the "land for peace" principle, the "Road Map" plan, and the Arab peace initiative, Yang said.

Second, the parties should take positive measures to restore stability and accumulate mutual trust, so as to create conditions for the development of peace process.

Third, China believes the two-state solution should be maintained and calls for an early establishment of an independent Palestinian state and the two countries of Palestine and Israeli live in harmony.

"This is the ultimate way out for the Palestinian issue, which can give guarantee to the Middle East peace and security," Yang said.

Fourth, the international community should continue to pay due attention to the Middle East issue, and deliver its supports to the peace talks, the inner-Palestinian unity and economic growth.

Fifth, the peace negotiations between Palestine and Israel, Syria and Israel, Lebanon and Israel should advance in a coordinated way in order to achieve comprehensive peace across the Middle East region, Yang said.

"As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China will continue to maintain close communication and coordination with parties concerned to play a constructive role in pushing for a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Middle East issue," Yang added.

He said he has enunciated China's position on current Middle East issues during the trip. He hoped relevant parties could stick to the peaceful negotiation and accumulate mutual trust in a bid to advance the Middle East peace process.

He said he believes his visits to the four Middle East nations will contribute to the peace process.

Yang left the Syrian capital Damascus on Sunday after meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mualem.

(Xinhua News Agency April 27, 2009)