Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem on Wednesday expressed
appreciation over China's just stance over the Middle East
issues.
Muallem made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Chinese
envoy on the Middle East issues Sun Bigan, in which the two sides
exchanged views on the latest developments in the region.
Muallem said Syria would stick to its choice for peace and
restore its occupied Golan Heights and resolve the disputes with
Israel through negotiations in efforts to make further contribution
to achieving peace and stability in the Middle East.
For his part, Sun said China has insistently called for
negotiations between all concerning parties in the Middle East to
solve their disputes and realize a peaceful coexistence between
Israel and the Arab countries on the basis of relative UN
resolutions, the land-for-peace principle and the Arab peace
initiatives.
China supports Syria's legitimate right to restore the occupied
Golan and hopes that Syria and Israel would restart talks on a
nearly date, which would contribute to a comprehensive solution to
the Middle East issues and peace and stability in the region, Sun
added.
China is willing to play a constructive role in restarting
negotiations between Syria and Israel as early as possible and
achieving a just and lasting peace in the region in cooperation
with all concerned parties, the envoy said.
Sun, who arrived here on Tuesday for a three-day visit, also
held a meeting with Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad
earlier in the day.
(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2007)
