Search the SCMP Archives: Advanced -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Resources: CHINA Government Economics Indicators Media Universities Travel TAIWAN Government Economics Indicators Columns: Around China China Life Beijing Briefing Guangdong Briefing Shanghai Briefing Taipei Briefing What's News Culture Scene Legal View Beijing Byte Saturday, August 25, 2001 Jiang expresses support to Arafat ASSOCIATED PRESS in Beijing Next Story -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Updated at 3.12pm, Saturday: The mainland president expressed unwavering support for the Palestinians and told their leader, Yasser Arafat, that international observers should be sent to the Middle East to help shepherd the region toward peace, official Chinese media reported on Saturday. ''The Chinese people will always stand on the side of the Palestinians' just cause,'' Jiang Zemin told Mr Arafat, according to Xinhua news Agency. It described the meeting as ''warm and friendly.'' The mainland, a longtime supporter of the Palestinian cause, initiated the idea for Mr Arafat's visit, the Chinese Communist Party newspaper People's Daily said. Mr Arafat last visited the mainland in August 2000, just days before Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres. On Friday, Mr Arafat briefed Mr Jiang on what Xinhua described as ''Israel's abuse of military force'' in Palestinian territory that ''impeded the peace process''. Mr Arafat also endorsed the mainland's advocacy of sending observers from other nations to monitor the conflict. More than 580 Palestinians and 150 Israelis have been killed in the past 11 months of Middle East violence. Israel has said repeatedly that it holds Mr Arafat and his security forces responsible for attacks on Israel because they have not reined in militants. Earlier on Friday, Mr Arafat met with Li Peng, chairman of the mainland's National People's Congress, who assured him that the Chinese position on the Middle East ''is always consistent'' - support for the Palestinians. ''Three generations of Chinese leaders have stuck firmly to this policy,'' Mr Li said, according to Xinhua. ''We express our indignation on the recent use of Israeli military force in the Palestinian self-rule area,'' he said. ''Resolving the conflict through communication is the sole and right approach.'' In turn, Mr Arafat praised the mainland for its ''relentless'' work at the United Nations to help resolve the conflict between the Palestinians and Israel, Xinhua said. Beijing has repeatedly called for restraint from Israel and the Palestinians and urged the two sides to resume negotiations. Also on Friday, the mainland and the Palestinians signed an agreement on economic and technological co-operation, the China Daily newspaper reported. The mainland was the last leg of a sweep across Asia by Mr Arafat this week to meet with leaders on Mideast issues. He also visited India and Pakistan. A year ago, Israel offered the Palestinians a state in Gaza and most of the West Bank and a share of Jerusalem. But they held out for more, especially the right of millions of Arab refugees and descendants to return to homes they lost in Israel. Fighting broke out in late September. Meanwhile, in Israel, members of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, expressed surprise this week at learning the mainland had cancelled a planned visit by a Knesset delegation to Beijing early next month. They were told that the Chinese would be ''too busy,'' the Jerusalem Post reported on its Web site. The Chinese Embassy in Jerusalem said the postponement was not connected to the political situation in the Middle East. ''We have no problem with Israel,'' spokesman Qi Qianjin said. Next Story Back to Top Home | China | Technology | Weather | Education | Marketplace | Story Index Specials Totally HK | Channel Home | Racing Post | Classified Post | Meeting Point Hotel Guide | PostPhoto | Events | Store Advertising | Contact Us | Privacy Statement | Press Releases Copyright © 2001. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. More Main Stories • Army officer sentenced for leaking information • Taiwan 'proves feasibility of democracy on mainland' • Aids clinic vindicates reviled doctor • Urban age beckons rural idyll • Five-year plan tackles huge challenge of helping elderly Print a copy Send this article to a friend