Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Saturday showed great concern about the deteriorating situation in the Middle East and voiced support for Palestine's efforts to salvage the peace process in the region.

In a letter in reply to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Jiang said the China supports all efforts towards seeking a peaceful solution and wishes the two sides could take effective measures to get back to the negotiation table.

Jiang said the Chinese government and people are sympathetic with the difficult condition the Palestinian National Authority and its people are facing.

China appreciates Palestine's bid to seek a cease-fire with Israel, Jiang said.

Jiang said China opposes Israel's implementation of such measures as military strikes, economic blockade, impairing the life of Palestinian civilians and damaging their property, especially the act of confining the freedom of movement of Arafat.

China supports all efforts towards seeking a peaceful solution to the current Mideast crisis and wishes the two sides could practice restraint and take effective measures to get back to the negotiation table, Jiang stressed.

China is willing, in cooperation with the international community, to play its due role in easing the tension in the Middle East, he added.

(China Daily January 28, 2002)