China yesterday called for the Hamas-led Palestinian Government to renounce violence and recognize Israel.

It is in the fundamental interests of the Palestinian people that Hamas accept previously reached Palestinian-Israeli agreements, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said at a regular news conference in Beijing.

"Relevant parties in the Middle East should resolve disputes through political consultation on the basis of United Nations resolutions and the principle of land for peace," he said.

The European Union and the United States have cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority since the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) formed a government in late March.

China is concerned about the situation in the Middle East, and "doesn't stand for political isolation and economic blockade", said Liu.

His remarks came the day before the second ministerial meeting of the Sino-Arab Co-operation Forum, which is expected to start today.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar is due to arrive in Beijing for the meeting of officials from China and various Arab nations.

The two-day forum will focus on building a new Sino-Arab partnership, and will adopt a communiqu on issues of common concern as well as a working plan for the coming two years.

During his visit, Zahar is also scheduled to meet his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing.

"China will make its stance (on the Middle East issue) clear to Zahar during his visit," said Liu.

Liu also told reporters that foreign ministers from six world powers will meet tomorrow in a bid to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis.

Senior officials from the UN Security Council's permanent members China, Russia, the United States, France and Britain plus German officials have already met to narrow divisions over how Tehran should be persuaded to halt uranium enrichment.

Source: China Daily