Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan made a telephone call to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat Friday, conveying warm greetings and sympathy from Chinese President Jiang Zemin and the Chinese government.
Tang also spoke with Amr Mahmoud Moussa, secretary-general of the League of Arab States, by phone Friday.
Tang told Arafat that the Chinese government strongly denounces the aggressive activities of Israel. The Chinese side is making efforts in various aspects to urge Israel to immediately implementthe relative resolutions adopted by the United Nations Security Council and withdraw all troops from Palestinian territory as soon as possible, he said.
President Jiang called Arafat the banner of the just cause of Palestine, Tang said over the telephone. He said Arafat is admirable because of his composure in the face of vicissitudes andthe courage he has shown in times of mortal danger.
Tang emphasized that a just cause enjoys abundant support, while an unjust cause finds little support. The Chinese government and people will, as always, firmly support Arafat and the just cause of the Palestinian people in their struggle to resume their legitimate national rights.
Arafat thanked Tang for calling him at this time of crisis. He also thanked the Chinese leaders and government for their consistent support for the just cause of the Palestinian people. He appealed to the international community to act immediately to restore the Mideast peace process.
During his telephone conversation with Moussa, Tang explained the Chinese government's view on the current situation in the Middle East.
Tang said the Chinese side has been making efforts in all aspects to ease the tension in the Middle East.
President Jiang Zemin and other Chinese leaders have repeatedlymade clear China's stance on this issue when they met with foreign guests in Beijing recently.
China has also maintained consultations and coordination with the UN secretary-general and the other permanent members of the UN Security Council through various channels.
As the rotational coordinator of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the resident representative of China in the UN summoned the five permanent members to meet for consultation on the Mideast situation on April 3. After the meeting, the resident representative of China at the UN met with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to brief him about the consultation and express the wish that Annan would continue to play an active role in the process.
Tang said Arafat, as the leader of the Palestinian people, enjoys high prestige among them and is an indispensable factor in the Mideast peace process. The Israeli side is playing with fire by besieging Arafat and threatening to exile him.
Tang noted that the League of Arab States is to convene an emergency meeting of foreign ministers to discuss the Mideast situation. He expressed hope that the Arab nations would take practical measures to stop the occurrence of all incidents of violence, resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and restore stability in the Middle East.
He said China will, as always, continue to make efforts to support justice and the legitimate demands of the Arab countries, stop violence and resume peace talks.
Moussa thanked Tang for calling, and said the Arab nations place great importance on and highly appreciate the just stance that China holds on the current situation in the Middle East. He said he would brief the foreign ministers attending the Saturday meeting of the League of Arab States about China's stance as mentioned above.
(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2002)
