China voices strong call for restraint in Middle East conflict

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-06 23:39

BEIJING - China's top envoy on the Middle East affairs has voiced a strong call for the involved parties in the ongoing conflict to exercise restraint, cease military action and armed conflict and create conditions for peaceful talks and political settlement.

In a press release Tuesday, Sun Bigan, China's special envoy to the Middle East Region, said "military actions could contribute nothing but break down the hard-won peace process in the region."

Sun made the remarks during respective meetings with ambassadors from Arabian countries on Monday and Israel on Tuesday.

Sun also urged the international community to take its due responsibility to help promote the issue back to the right track for political settlement, according to the press release.

During the meetings, Sun said that China offered US$ 1 million in emergency humanitarian aid to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on December 30, 2008.

It will continue to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in proper ways and up to its capacity, he said.

Sun said China has done a lot of work to help resolve the Gaza conflict. It felt deeply concerned about the escalating conflict and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza area.