Chinese Premier, Israeli PM Discuss Mideast Peace, Iran Nuclear Issue

Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency)

Beijing, 10 January: In talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing on Wednesday [10 January] afternoon, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel is willing to resolve the Middle East issue through peaceful negotiations.

Negotiations must be based on the peaceful coexistence of the “two countries”, Olmert added.

Premier Wen told him China supports the achievement by Israel and Palestine of peaceful coexistence of “two countries and two nations” for common development.

“History and reality have proven that force cannot settle the Middle East issue but only increase estrangement and animosity,” Wen said.

Wen said China sees the Palestinian issue as the core of the Middle East issue, and hopes Israel, Syria and Lebanon will take concrete measures to build mutual trust and create conditions for the resumption of peace talks.

“China is ready to contribute to the Middle East peace process and to dialogue between the Arab world and Israel,” Premier Wen said.

Olmert appreciated China’s efforts over the years in promoting the Middle East peace process. He also pledged to keep contacts with China on this matter.

On the Iranian nuclear issue, Wen reiterated China’s support for the maintenance of the international non-proliferation system.

“Resolution 1737 adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council members reflects the concerns of the international community about the Iranian nuclear issue,” Wen said, calling for the international community to continue efforts to promote an early resumption of negotiations on the issue.

“China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting the settlement of the issue,” Wen noted.

Five days earlier, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani visited China and conveyed Iran’s message on the nuclear issue. During the talks between Larijani and Chinese President Hu Jintao, Hu expressed the hope that Iran will make a “serious response” to Resolution 1737.

“The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1737, which reflects the shared concerns of the international community over the Iranian nuclear issue, and we hope Iran will make a serious response to the resolution,” Hu said.

(c) 2007 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.