China welcomes and supports the Palestinian government's
three-year development plan to revive the economy, China's special
envoy on the Middle East issue said in Paris on Monday.
Sun Bigan said so at the international donors' conference for
Palestine hosted by France. He also announced China has decided to
fund the plan with 80 million RMB (11 million US dollars) in free
aid.
He said the Palestinian economic development plan drawn up by
Prime Minister Salam Fayyad for the next three years would help
improve the Palestinians' livelihood and boost their confidence in
the peace process.
He also believed it would also "create a favorable atmosphere
for the ongoing political peace talks (between Israel and the
Palestinians) and lay a solid foundation for the future
establishment of a Palestinian state."
He further said the economic development in Palestine is closely
connected with the region's political process.
He said China has offered the Palestinians economic assistance
in various forms, as part of international efforts to help improve
the Palestinians' economic situation and social development.
French President
Nicolas Sarkozy (C), French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (L)
and former British Prime Minister and international envoy for the
Middle East Tony Blair arrive at the international donors
conference in Paris Dec. 17, 2007.
World powers and international donors met here on Monday to
mobilize political and financial support for the Palestinians.
Fayyad's plan drew a total of 7.4 billion US dollars in aid, which
is seen as a big potential stimulus for the newly-relaunched Middle
East peace process.
Sun said China is a dedicated supporter of the Middle East peace
process and firmly believed in the negotiated settlement of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
After the conference, Sun will head to the Middle East to visit
Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Syria.
French President
Nicolas Sarkozy (C) welcomes US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
(L) as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas looks on at the start of
the international donors conference in Paris Dec. 17,
2007.
(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2007)
