The Chinese Government and people firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian and Arab people, said President Jiang Zemin at a meeting yesterday with visiting Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Jiang condemned Israel for its refusal to implement United Nations resolutions, its invasion of Palestinian-controlled areas and the restriction of the freedom of President Yasser Arafat, who is an old friend of the Chinese people.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China will continue to make efforts to realize a just and lasting peace in the Mideast, said Jiang.
Top legislator Li Peng also met with Rafik Hariri yesterday.
Constant contacts and exchanges between parliamentarians of China and Lebanon will promote bilateral friendship and cooperation, said Li.
Li recalled Hariri's China visit in 1996, during which they had fruitful talks, and voiced his satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations since then.
China was pleased to see that the Lebanese people were recovering rapidly from the country's civil war and from the long occupation by Israel, and striving to re-build their nation.
He said China believed Lebanon was bound to resume its prosperity soon with the unremitting efforts of the Lebanese people.
Li also mentioned Lebanese parliament leader Nabih Berri's successful visit to China last year and the Lebanese parliament delegation's participation in the third annual meeting of the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace convened in China earlier this month.
Hariri said he and his entourage witnessed China's great development in various fields in recent years, and Lebanon was delighted to see China's achievements as China is a sincere friend of the Lebanese and Arabian people.
He pointed out that Lebanon was satisfied with the bilateral friendship and cooperation, including that between the two parliaments, and Lebanon would work with China to continue to push forward the development of bilateral friendship and cooperation.
They also exchanged in-depth views on the Middle East issue.
Li congratulated Lebanon on its successful hosting of the Arab summit meeting, and reiterated the Chinese Government and people's consistent firm support for the just cause of the Lebanese and Arab people.
(China Daily April 30, 2002)
