CHINA EGYPT TALK MIDEAST PEACE

Chinese envoy holds talks with Egyptian officials on Mideast peace

Visiting China's special envoy on Middle East issues Sun Bigan held talks with senior Egyptian officials on the Middle East situation on Monday. Sun said during a meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit that China was closely watching the latest developments in the Middle East, urging for a political settlement to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. China maintains that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict should be solved through dialogue and political negotiation based on relevant UN resolutions and the principle of 'land for peace', he said.

The envoy also said that China was willing to push forward the Middle East peace process along with the international community including Egypt and the Arab League (AL). Meanwhile, Sun also expressed appreciation of the important role played by Egypt in the regional peace efforts in line with international resolutions, Arab peace initiative and the roadmap peace plan. Abul Gheit, on his part, said that it was important to end the current escalation of violence in the Gaza border area and to mobilize international efforts to stop further deterioration of the situation so as to bring about stability to the Middle East region.

He also underlined the need to create an appropriate atmosphere to revive the long-stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace process and guarantee the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel in peace and security. Sun also met with Egyptian Presidential Adviser Osama el-Baz and Arab League (AL) Assistant Secretary General Ahmed bin Helli respectively on Monday. The Egyptian officials also voiced appreciation of China's stance and policy on the regional issues, hoping that China would continue to play its role in pushing ahead with the Mideast peace process. Sun arrived in Cairo on Sunday on a two-day visit to Egypt, the
first leg of his week-long tour in the region, which will also take him to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Tensions between the Palestinians and Israel have run high as Palestinian militants mounted a deadly attack on an Israeli army post near the Gaza border on Sunday. Two Israeli soldiers were killed, four others wounded and another was abducted by the militants. Israel has vowed retaliation. (Source: Xinhua)