Arafat, who arrived in Beijing on Friday is scheduled to meet Chinese President Ziang Jemin besides other leaders and will brief them about the tense situation prevailing in the Middle East. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi describing Arafat's tour as a working visit. Beijing is expected to reiterate its support for deployment of international peace observers in areas of Israel-Palestine conflict.
Arafat had earlier paid a short visit to India and held talks with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the Mid East crisis. Meanwhile, China has reiterated its call for restraint of the ultimate limit from both Israel and Palestine, and especially Israel, and has appealed both sides for an immediate halt to the armed violence against civilians.
Israel and Palestinians should take effective measures for the resumption of negotiations, the spokesman said adding China has consistently supported UN Security Council's active role in maintaining regional peace and security in the region. Peace negotiation is the only correct available option to achieve a solution for the dispute, and a defacto ceasefire is the precondition for easing the tension in the Middle East, The spokesman added.
Bureau Report