Zhang said at a regular press conference that China's stance on the promotion of a Middle East peace process was crystal clear, adding that China had always made efforts to this end.

China's special envoy to the Middle East, Wang Shijie, has visited Palestine and Israel recently and exchanged views with other parties concerned.

China had also proposed its own views on the solution to the peace process, Zhang said.

China hoped that Israel and Palestine would make concrete efforts to cooperate with the international community so as to resolve the issue as early as possible, she said.

And China's concrete proposals included the establishment of fair, authoritative and effective international supervising mechanisms for the effective implementation of the "road map."

China also proposed holding an international conference for the Middle East issue as soon as possible, in which all the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and the parties concerned could participate.

China has kept close contact with all parties concerned and was ready to work towards a successful peace process, she said.

When asked about China's view of the US-Arab summit and the three-way summit between the United States, Israel and Palestine, Zhang said the summits marked an important step towards the achievement of peace and stability in the Middle East.

China hopes that the parties concerned continue their efforts to promote the early realization of all-around and lasting peace in the region, she said, adding that China is also willing to make efforts to this end.

At the press conference, the spokeswoman announced Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will attend a number of meetings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Phnom Penh of Cambodia.

Li Zhaoxing was invited by Hor Namhong, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, which takes up current presidency of ASEAN.

Li will attend the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of ASEAN, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) (the 10+3 meeting); the 10th Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum; the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference; the ASEAN-China (10+1) Dialogue, and the second informal meeting of the Foreign Ministers of China, Japan and ROK, which will be held in Phnom Penh from June 17 to 19.

Li will also attend the Asian Cooperation Dialogue to be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand from June 21 to 22.

At the invitation of Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien of Vietnam, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong of Cambodia, and Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai of Thailand, Li Zhaoxing will visit the three countries before and after the meetings.

Lastly, the spokeswoman confirmed 18 Chinese citizens who had illegally emigrated from China's Tibet Autonomous Region have been repatriated from Nepal.

According to Zhang, the Nepalese police caught 21 illegal Chinese immigrants in the country's capital Katmandu a few days ago.

After identifying them as Chinese citizens and in compliance with international norms on dealing with illegal immigrants, the Nepalese police repatriated 18 of the illegal immigrants back to China on Saturday.

Zhang said the issue of illegal immigration is one of international concern and the international community has established a series of international and regional cooperation activities to crack down on the problem.

Zhang said that China attaches great importance to and has been an active participant in these cooperation activities.

The issue should not be politicized, Zhang stressed, as that would not help to resolve it.

(Source from Xinhua News Agency, June 6, 2003)