China: Foreign min asks restraint in Palestine

Beijing, June 26: China's foreign minister called on Tuesday for restraint by all parties in Palestine to help bring peace to the West Asia, during a meeting with a senior Israeli official in Beijing.

''China is concerned about the situation in the West Asia,'' Yang Jiechi told Israeli Foreign Ministry Director-General Aharon Abramovitch, according to the ministry's Web site (www.fmprc.gov.cn).

''We called on the relevant parties in Palestine to maintain restraint, conduct dialogue and consultation, and bring peace to the situation,'' Yang said.

The two sides also exchanged views on mutual relations, and agreed to further communication and cooperation in the future, the statement said.

China's foreign diplomacy has taken on a higher profile in recent years, as it increases trade ties globally. It emphasises its ''peaceful rise'' and tradition of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs.

Yang and Abramovitch had been expected to discuss Iran, according to Israeli media, but the statement today did not mention that country.

Reuters>