Chinese FM Spokesman Sun Yuxi told reporters Thursday that Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan made a phone call to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, and before that he talked with Israeli Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres on the phone at the request of Israel.
In both calls, Tang elaborated China's position and viewpoints on the current situation in the Middle East, urging both sides to remain restrained and to cooperate with the mediation efforts of the international community by taking actions to ease tension.
"Military action and confrontation just lead to deepening hatred, and talks and negotiations are the only right way to resolve conflicts," Tang is quoted as saying.
Tang stressed that China will not benefit from the issue and will adopt an impartial attitude, firmly supporting the peace process.
China opposes the military attacks and economic restrictions placed on the Palestinians by the Israeli side and is also against any terrorist activities against civilian targets, the foreign minister said.
China will continue to work with the international community over efforts to relax tension in the region, Tang said.
The spokesman also told reporters that the US-China plane collision issue will soon be wrapped up after the two sides reached agreements on the technical details of disassembly and transportation of the US EP-3 spy plane.
"China and the United States have basically solved the matter, involving both the crew and the aircraft. We hope bilateral relations can get back on their normal track."
The US EP-3 surveillance plane landed on Hainan Island after it collided with a Chinese fighter jet on April 1.
Asked if the possible visit by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the Yasukuni Shrine, which is dedicated to Japan's war dead, could affect the high-level exchanges between China and Japan, Sun said: "We maintain that the high-level exchange visits between China and Japan play an important role in the bilateral relations.
"Both sides should adopt a positive and constructive attitude to handle the issues in bilateral relations to create a necessary atmosphere for high-level exchange visits."
Questioned about a report that the United States has decided to resume talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the spokesman said he hopes the two sides can stick to dialogue which plays a positive role in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
"That is conducive to the interest of not only the north and south of Korea, but also the United States and other parties," Sun added.
(chinadaily 06/08/2001)
