President Hu Jintao
has sent a letter of condolence to Rawhi Fattuh, speaker of the
Palestine Legislative Council, on the death of Palestinian
President Yasser Arafat.
"His passing away is a great loss for Palestinians," Hu said,
"The Chinese people have lost a great friend."
Hu hailed Arafat as a great leader and an outstanding statesman
who had dedicated his whole life to the just cause of restoring the
rights of the Palestinian people. Arafat enjoys profound respect
among his people and great prestige in the international community,
Hu added.
Arafat was a founder and proponent of
Sino-Palestinian relations and made great contribution to
consolidating and developing the friendship between the two, Hu
noted.
Hu expressed a conviction that the Palestinian government and
people will carry forward Arafat's uncompleted work, continuing to
advance the peace process in the Middle East, and making
unremitting efforts to resolve issues through political means.
China stands ready to work with the Palestinian Authority to
further boost friendly relations, said the Chinese president.
(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2004)