Israeli President Moshe Katsav has expressed hope that China would use its influence to make more contributions to the Mideast peace process.

China "has very good relations with the Arab world. I hope China to contribute positively to the relations between Israel and Arab world," Katsav said.

Katsav made the remarks during an interview with Chinese journalists at his presidential office in West Jerusalem last Monday before he leaves for China for an official visit on Saturday evening.

During the visit, he will exchange views with Chinese leadership on the Israel-Arab conflict and other common issues, according to the 58-year-old Iran-born Jewish President.

Katsav said "I think the channel for dialogue should be opened and Israel is very serious for a political solution with the Palestinians."

However, the former hawkish minister of Sharon's Likud Group said Israel will not accept a partial ceasefire, but a comprehensive ceasefire.

"Israel hopes that the Palestinians could reach a ceasefire, but there should be a ceasefire or not a ceasefire, a comprehensive ceasefire is a total ceasefire," he said.

On the Geneva initiatives, Katsav said he encourages dialogue between the Palestinians and Israel, adding that dialogue is very important because during the last three years, there are too many disconnections and misunderstandings between the two sides.

"However, the roadmap is only map for Mideast peace process," he said, adding only the Israeli government and parliament have the right to raise political initiatives.

"We should give priority to the roadmap and see what we can implement," the president said.

The Geneva initiative, drafted by Israeli and Palestinian moderates and launched in Geneva on Dec. 1, calls for shared sovereignty over Jerusalem, Israel's removal of most Jewish settlements from occupied land and the right of Israel to decide how many Palestinian refugees from wars since 1948 would return.

As to recent disputes between Israel and the United States, Katsav said the United States is the best friend of Israel and " between brothers and friends there will be some differences," adding the difference is "not significant."

On the China-Israel relations, Katsav, former chairmen of Israel-China friendship committee of Israeli Parliament, said "I am very glad to see the relations of two countries is becoming stronger year after year."

One of the main purposes of my visit is to enlarge the cooperation between Israel and china in the field of science and technology for the benefit of both countries, he said, stressing " The cooperation upon science and technology between Israel and China is excellent."

"I hope my visit will make improvement of the relations between Israel and China on economy and culture," he added.

katsav noted both China and Israel have very ancient history and they "have many common values and aspects."

Recalling his two visits to China in the past decade, the president said "I regarded myself as one of best friends of China," and he is astonished by China's recent dramatic developments.

Born in 1945 in Iran, Katsav immigrated to Israel in 1951 and is a father of five. He was elected in 2000 as the president of the State of Israel by defeating the world-famous Israeli Labor veteran Shimon Peres.

It is Katsav's first state visit to China and the first state visit of an Israeli president to China in five years. Katsav will arrive in Hongkong on Sunday and then travel to Beijing next Wednesday.

He will be accompanied by President of the Israel National Academy of Science Ya'akov Ziv, Likud Party Chairman of Parliament Lawmaker Gidon Saar, Labor Party Chairman of Parliament Lawmaker Daliah Itzik, General Director of the Israeli Industrialist Union, Yoram Blizovski and Chairman of the Israel Export Institute Shraga Barush.

During the week-long visit, Katsav will meet his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and Chinese parliamentary chief Wu Bangguo, according to Israeli Presidential Office.

He will inaugurate the new Israeli embassy in China and will meet with leaders of the Jewish community there.

(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2003)