国内英语新闻:China expects Arab summit to make progress in Palestinian cause

SIRTE, Libya, March 27 (Xinhua) -- China expects that the Arab summit in Libya can coordinate the inter-Arab relations and make achievements in the Palestinian cause, a senior Chinese diplomat said here on Saturday.

"We hope the Arab countries could coordinate internal relations and achieve positive results in reconciliation among Palestinian factions as well as the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli talks at the summit," said China's Special Envoy to Middle East Wu Sike in an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the 22nd Arab Summit in the Libyan city of Sirte.

As a special representative of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Wu attended the opening ceremony of the summit at the invitation of the Arab League Secretariat. He transmitted a letter of Chinese President Hu Jintao to the Arab leaders.

"I will convey a strong message of China that we attach great importance to relations with the Arab world, and wish to promote further developments of such relations in the future," Wu said.

Wu said China and the Arab world have a long history of friendly relationship. Since the founding of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum, the two sides have seen considerable progress made in the fields of political, economical and cultural exchanges as well as energy and environmental cooperation, and more than 10 mechanisms on exchange and cooperation have been established.

"China-Arab Cooperation Forum has become a successful brand," said Wu.

Wu said before coming to Libya, he participated in a reception in Beijing together with Arab diplomats to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of the Arab League. These ambassadors and representatives highly appreciated the relationship between China and the Arab countries.

Wu also said he would brief the Arab League headquarters and Arab foreign ministers on China's preparatory work for the foreign ministers meeting under the mechanism of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum to be held in May and convey the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

Asked about the Palestinian issue, Wu said "As a friend of the Arab world and the Palestinian people, China is very concerned about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and has made unremitting efforts to push the issue solved through political negotiations.

"To achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Middle East issue and establish an independent Palestinian state are China's consistent position, he added.

"There are some new developments of this issue, and China has been in contact with concerned parties to promote the peace process," he said.

The annual Arab summit opened here earlier in the day. The two- day gathering will focus on a package of issues facing the Arab leaders, including rescuing East Jerusalem from Israeli violation, the reconciliation of the Arab world and the Iranian nuclear issue.