Chinese president, Palestinian leader hold talks

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas agreed during their talks Wednesday afternoon to jointly develop all-round friendly and cooperative cooperation between the two countries and actively push forward the Middle East peace process.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) holds a welcome ceremony for visiting Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing May 18, 2005.

During their talks in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday afternoon, Hu and Abbas exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues concerning the Middle East in an extensive way.

Hu said the Chinese people and government will always firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people. It is the existing policy of the Chinese government to develop a long-term, friendly and cooperative relationship between China and Palestine, Hu said.

The Chinese President set forth several suggestions on further expansion of bilateral links. On the political front, Hu said China and Palestine should promote friendly contacts on all levels and in various aspects through enhancing exchanges of visits by high-ranking officials and exchanges among political parties.

On the economic front, the two countries should share a vision to jointly explore new ways and forms of expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, Hu said. He added that the two sides should further extend the area and enlarge the scale of economic cooperation so as to bring about substantial benefits to the people of both countries.

Hu also said the two countries should step up exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, education and public health. The two countries should also increase personnel exchanges and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

Abbas said the Palestine-China friendship has withstood the test of time and the ever-changing international situation and taken a deep root in the hearts of the people of both countries. He thanked the Chinese people and government for providing political support and economic assistance to the Palestinian people in their struggle for national liberation and independence.

Abbas said Palestine will firmly adhere to a one-China policy and join hands with China to advance the growth of bilateral relations. He expressed the wish that the two countries should intensify high-level communications, enhance political dialogue and expand cooperation in various fields.

Abbas also hopes that the signing of cooperative documents between the two countries will create more favorable conditions in trade and economic cooperation.

Hu noted that China is one of the first countries that lent support to the Palestine National Liberation Movement and recognized the state of Palestine. He said over the past more than five decades, the people of the two countries have developed profound, traditional friendship and become genuine, reliable and trustworthy brothers and partners.

Hu thank Palestine for its firm and consistent support to China 's great cause of reunification and its efforts to promote friendly relations between China and Arab countries.

On the Middle East issue, Hu said the Palestine-Israel issue must be resolved through political consultations on the basis of the "land for peace" principle and relevant UN resolutions. The parties concerned should restart the "road map" plan as soon as possible and establish an independent state of Palestine at the earliest possible date.

China has always supported and played an active role in the peace process of the Middle East, Hu said. He expressed the readiness to join efforts with the international community to push for an early realization of all-round, persistent peace in the Middle East region.

Abbas introduced the latest developments in reform within Palestine and Palestine-Israel peace talks to Hu. Acknowledging that the "road map" plan provides a solution for the Palestine- Israel issue, Abbas emphasized that "road map" plan is the best route to peace of Middle East. He said the "road map" plan conforms with the interests of both Palestine and Israel and the interests of the Middle East region. He called for relevant parties to always abide by and carry out the plan.

Though there are still a lot of difficulties and obstacles ahead on the road to peace, Abbas said Palestine will firmly go along the path of peace talks and reconciliation with Israel. He said Palestine will finally realize the goals of establishing an independent state of Palestine, achieving peaceful coexistence with Israel and realizing lasting peace of the Middle East.

After the talks, Hu and Abbas attended the signing ceremony of five documents on cooperation between the two countries, including the agreement on bilateral economic and technological cooperation.

Source: Xinhua