Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said Tuesday that China greatly appreciated the firm anti-terrorism stance adopted by the Arab states and is willing to work with them on anti-terrorist efforts.

Tang made the remarks in his phone conversation with Amr Mahmoud Moussa, secretary-general of the League of Arab States (LAS).

Tang reiterated China's basic position on anti-terrorism and pointed out that international cooperation should be strengthened in combating terrorism.

He stressed that the United Nations should be given full play in the global anti-terror campaign and said all military operations should conform to the tenet and principles of the UN Charter.

"Evidence should be concrete and targets be clear so that innocent civilians could not be injured," he said, referring to a military response to the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Moussa said that he attached importance to and fully agreed with China's principled stance in anti-terrorism. Noting that terrorism is a complex issue, he said military operations alone, at this point, cannot thoroughly resolve the problem.

He called for extensive international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, saying that currently priority should be given to enhanced international consultation and cooperation.

Moussa also expressed the worries of the Arab states in regard to the deteriorating situation in Palestine and the difficulty in securing the resumption of the Middle East peace talks.

Tang again reaffirmed the unswerving support of China to the just struggle of the Palestine and Arabian people.

"We believe that it is imperative for Israeli and Palestine to realize a cease-fire so as to create conditions for the resumption of peace talks," he said.

Under the current circumstances, Tang said, it is more than necessary for the international community to take joint actions and push forward the peace talks more actively.

Tang stressed that China is ready to strengthen consultation and cooperation with LAS and all other Arab states both in anti- terrorist cooperation and the advance of Mideast peace process.

Earlier, Tang also had a phone conversation with Pakistani Foreign Minister Mian Abdul Sattar Laleka and Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, and exchanged views with them on bilateral ties and anti-terrorist cooperation.

(People's Daily 10/03/2001)