国内英语新闻:Chinese vice premier meets Palestinian PM in Ramallah

RAMALLAH, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu met with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad here on Tuesday.

Hui at first conveyed greetings of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Fayyad, saying the Palestinians and China are good friends and brothers with mutual respect and mutual trust.

The traditional friendship between the two sides have been consolidated over the past more than 40 years and the friendly cooperation has seen profound development, Hui said, adding that China is ready to join hands with the Palestinians to enhance the friendly bilateral political ties, strengthen economic and trade cooperation and expand cultural exchanges.

Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu (L) shakes hands with Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in the West Bank City of Ramallah, March 23, 2010.

Fayyad hailed the traditional friendship between the governments and the peoples of both countries. He also expressed gratitude over China's consistent support of the justice cause of the Palestinian people for their national rights.

The two sides exchanged views mainly on improving agricultural cooperation. They both agreed to open the gate for Chinese- Palestinian agricultural cooperation in the fields of grain planting, fruit growing and stock raising. Fayyad also wished success to the 2010 Shanghai Expo.

The two sides also exchanged their views on the Middle East issues. Hui reaffirmed the Chinese government's position on the those issues, saying the Chinese government and people deeply sympathize with the experience of the Palestinian people.

Hui also said the Chinese side holds that all concerned parties in the Middle East should solve their disputes through peaceful negotiations under relevant UN resolutions and according to the principles of land for peace and the Arab peace initiative, to reach an overall, just and lasting solution of the Middle East issue and realize peaceful coexistence of two independent nations.

Following their talks, Hui and Fayyad attended the signing ceremony of the agricultural cooperation deal between the two countries.

Hui also meet with Secretary General of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) Tayeb Abdul Rahim, and placed a wreath at the tomb of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is on a visit to Jordan, also had friendly talks with Hui through telephone