CHINESE ENVOY VISITS THE MIDDLE EAST IN A BID TO DE-ESCALATE CONFLICT IN GAZA

Beijing, 18 Ramadhan 1435/16 July 2014 (MINA) – China’s Special Envoy to the Middle East Wu Sike will be visiting a number of states in the Middle East, including Palestine and Israel, in a tour of the region that began yesterday and will continue until 26th of July.

Anadolu news agency quoted the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hong Lei, as saying that his country’s special envoy will be holding meetings in relevant states in a bid “to ease tensions in the region”.

Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Lei stressed that China is willing to cooperate with the international community to reach a ceasefire between Palestine and Israel as soon as possible and to end the conflict through political means.

“China would like to play a positive and constructive role for the early realisation of Palestine-Israel peace,” he added.

Israel has been waging a relentless air and sea assault on the Gaza Strip for more than a week. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported yesterday that 194 Palestinians had been killed as a result.

Israeli media announced yesterday the first Israeli death from Palestinian rockets.

China is deeply grieved and concerned about the continued escalation of Israel-Palestine conflict which has caused heavy casualties, and urges the two sides to cease military actions immediately so as to avoid a bigger humanitarian disaster.

Wu Sike said that China has always opposed to any violence against innocent civilians and believes that resorting to the use of force and countering violence with violence will not help resolve problems other than pile up more hatred.

As the Special Envoy on the Middle East Issue, I recently paid a special visit to Israel and Palestine, and persuaded the two sides to treat the development of the situation in a rational and calm manner and to avoid taking actions which will increase tension.

The escalation of the current situation does not help either party, but rather increase sufferings of the peoples and make the peace long awaited by all parties get further away, which China and the international community do not expect.

The recent Israel-Palestine conflict further highlights the significance and urgency of resuming peace talks. I hope that the two sides restrain themselves to their utmost, cease fire immediately and settle the disputes peacefully through talks, which is in the fundamental interests of Israel and Palestine.(T/P02/P04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)