China defended on June 21 its relations with Israel and said its cooperative relations with Israel would not harm the interests of any third party.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said at a routine press conference that the US concern on Israel's arms sales to China is "groundless".

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing visited Israel on Monday as part of his trip to the Middle East. The US has pressed Israel over the arms sales issue prior to Li's visit to the country.

"China pays great attention to its mutually beneficial and cooperative relations with Israel," said Liu. "The growth of Sino- Israeli relations would serve the interests of people of both countries and conducive to regional peace and stability."

"In developing bilateral relations, the principle of independence should be observed, and outside interfering factors should be cleared up," he stressed.

The Chinese foreign minister is on a trip to Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Syria and Lebanon. He met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Monday.

Source: Xinhua