Visiting Chinese special envoy for the Middle East Sun Bigan called for an immediate halt of military activities in Gaza during his meeting with Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah Thursday.

The two discussed the situation in the Gaza Strip, which has been under intensive Israeli attacks for almost three weeks, causing more than 1,000 Palestinians dead and over 4,600 wounded.

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (R) meets with Sun Bigan, China's special envoy on the Middle East issue, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, on Jan. 15, 2008. [Qi Xianghui/Xinhua]

Sun urged all parties to abide by UN Security Council resolution 1860 to avoid additional civilian casualties and ease the humanitarian crisis.

He said as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has the duty to uphold justice and safeguard world peace. The warfare in Gaza, since its start, had drawn attentions from the Chinese leadership as well as the Chinese public.

Sun said China has been making efforts to bring peace back to the region and to ease the humanitarian crisis happening in Gaza.

Sun stressed that China has been long supporting the stance held by the PNA and Abbas that the Palestinian issue should be solved politically.

Israeli President Shimon Peres meets with visiting China's special envoy on the Middle East issue Sun Bigan in Jerusalem, Jan. 14, 2009. [Yin Bogu/Xinhua]

He expressed his hope that the Palestinian side could continue gaining international support, and the disputes can be solved through negotiations.

Sun said that unity remains the basic and most important factor that ensures the Palestinians to regain their legitimate national rights, adding that China appreciates the tireless efforts that Abbas has made to maintain Palestinian national unity.