China is ready to play a bigger role in promoting the Middle East peace process and is willing to join all the efforts of the international community in this regard, visiting Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Yang Wenchang said in Tel Aviv on Friday.
During a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres earlier in the day, Yang said that what China is doing in the Middle East is focused on persuading both Israel and the Palestinians to reconciliation.
China will coordinate its efforts with all the peace efforts from the international community, specially from that of the United States, he added.
Yang said China strongly opposes and condemns all the violence against innocent civilians, and China understands the Israeli demand for security and for a peaceful environment.
For his part, Peres said Israel does not want China to join in the conflict, but hopes China to join in the solution to the conflict and make more contributions to the peace process.
The Israeli foreign minister said "China is a conflict shooter, instead of a conflict maker," adding that he appreciates and respects what China has done in the past in solving its historical disputes with other countries.
Yang Wenchang is the highest-rank Chinese official to visit the Middle East region since the start of the Israel-Palestinian conflict in September 2000.
The Chinese official concluded his visit to the region later on Friday. During his four-day visit, Yang also met with Israeli PrimeMinister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian National Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.
(eastday.com June 22, 2002)
