Addressing the emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly on the recent violence in the Middle East, Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN, Wang Yingfan said China is seriously concerned over the ongoing violence and growing tension in the region.

China condemns the excessive use of force against Palestinian civilians and the acts that undermine the peace process in the Middle East, Wang said.

Wang said China consistently holds that the question of Palestine should be solved through negotiations and dialogues which is in the interests of Israelis and Palestinians and is conducive to peace and stability in the region as well as in the world.

The sovereignty and security of states concerned in the region cannot be guaranteed until the legitimate rights of Palestinians, including their right to establish an independent state, are restored, Wang said.

China welcomes and supports the agreement reached by Israeli and Palestinian leaders at the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit in Egypt and hopes that the agreement is implemented in its entirety, he said.

Noting that it is a regret that the violence in the region is still going on and the death toll is rising, Wang expressed the hope that upcoming summit by Arab nations will contribute to acceleration of the Middle East peace process.

(People's Daily 10/21/2000)