Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing Friday that the Middle East peace process has reached a new era and Palestinians and Israelis are facing an opportunity to realize peace.

Kong made the remarks in response to a question on the recent visits of Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath and the Israeli Foreign Minister's special envoy Oren Shachor to China.

Kong said the two briefed China on the situation in the Middle East, especially on the latest developments of the reconciliation process.

He said China appreciated and supported the measures the two sides had taken to actively cooperate with the peace efforts of the international community and to ease tensions.

China urged the two sides to take effective measures to fulfill the promise of the cease-fire and army withdrawals so as to push forward the reconciliation process, he said.

He said China would, as always, work with the international community and contribute to the realization of long-term stability in the Middle East and peaceful coexistence between the Palestinian and Israeli peoples.

Kong said the two sides expressed their willingness to resolve the conflict through political negotiations.

They asked China to play a bigger role in Middle East issues, Kong said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2003)