China urges stop of military operations in Gaza

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-28 22:21

KUWAIT CITY -- China urges parties concerned to immediate stop the military operations in the Gaza Strip, and take effective measures to ease the tension, visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang said here Sunday.

Li, who is paying a four-day official visit to Kuwait, exchanged views with Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah on the situation in Gaza after Israel carried out massive air strikes against dozens of targets in Gaza early Saturday.

Early on Sunday Israel continued airstrikes on different targets belong to Islamic Hamas movement and its government in the Gaza Strip, leaving 271 people killed and several hundred injured since Saturday, in response to Hamas ongoing cross-border rockets attacks.

Li said China is shocked and serious concerned about the current military operations in Gaza which caused heavy casualties.

He said the Middle East peace process has drawn worldwide attention, and the international community has put great efforts to solve the issue. However, the parties concerned used force to solve their differences and caused heavy civilian casualties. " This runs counter to the efforts made by the international community."

The Chinese vice premier urged the two sides, Israel and the Palestinians, mainly Hamas, to resolve their differences through dialogue and realize peace and stability in the Middle East as early as possible.

Li stressed that China, as one of the permanent members of the UN, has always been concerned about and supports the Middle East peace process.

"China supports the efforts made by all parties, especially the Arab countries, to realize a comprehensive, just peace in the region," he said.

Emir Al-Sabah expressed deep regret over the consequences of the incident. He said he appreciates China's just position on the Middle East issue, and hopes to work with China to ease the current tensions and promote peace in the region.

Li pays the visit to Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwaiti First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

Kuwait is the final leg of Li's 11-day overseas visit, his first foreign visit since he took office as vice premier in March, which has already taken him to Indonesia and Egypt.