China's special envoy to the Middle East, Sun Bigan, has called for an immediate unconditional ceasefire to the conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

 

"Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah should end hostilities immediately to avoid further deterioration to the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon," Sun told a press conference following a closed-doors meeting with Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Shara Monday in Damascus.

 

The Chinese envoy, who arrived in Damascus on Sunday to begin a regional tour, said he had cancelled a scheduled visit to Lebanon's capital Beirut because the main bridges on the road linking Damascus and Beirut had been destroyed by Israeli air strikes.

 

Sun expressed China's willingness to intensify consultation and coordination with Arab nations in a bid to defuse tensions in the region. He urged all concerned parties to set up a political framework for a long-term solution to the conflict.

 

As for the draft UN Security Council resolution to end the fighting presented by France and the US he said that any resolution should fully take the concerned parties' opinions into consideration.

 

The Chinese envoy also called for emergency aid for Lebanon to ease the humanitarian crisis.

 

Sun will also travel to Israel, the Palestinian territories, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

 

Israel launched a massive assault against Lebanese Hezbollah on July 12 after two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped and eight others killed by the Shiite group in a cross-border attack.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2006)