Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Cairo Sunday that China encourages the parties concerned to resort to peaceful negotiation to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflicts.

 

"China maintains that we need to encourage the parties to resort to peaceful negotiation as a main approach under the principle of 'land for peace' in an effort to solve the conflict and facilitate regional peace and stability," Wen said.

 

He made the remarks at a press conference in the Egyptian capital Cairo before winding up a two-day official visit to Egypt.

 

"The conflict between the Palestinians and Israel is a flash point in the Middle East. We maintain that the key to solve this conflict is to follow relevant UN resolutions and the roadmap plan," Wen said.

 

The roadmap peace plan, drafted by the International Quartet comprising the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations, calls for an independent Palestinian state alongside a safety Israel.

 

As for the disagreements among various Palestinian political factions, Wen said that all Palestinian factions should calmly face factional divergences and disputes, and reach internal reconciliation, which would be conducive to the reconciliation between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

 

Asked on the role that China would like to play in the region, Wen said that China is hoping for a peaceful, stable and growing Middle East and China wants to play a role to help promote peace and facilitate the peace talks.

 

Anyhow China hoped that both the Palestinians and the Israelis would live side by side peacefully and seek common development, said Wen.

 

Wen arrived in Cairo on Saturday afternoon for the visit to Egypt, the first leg of his seven-nation tour to Africa, which will also take him to Ghana, the Republic of Congo, Angola, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2006)