On August 11, 2009, Wu Sike, China's Special Envoy to the Middle East, held a briefing for Chinese and foreign journalists to introduce the recent efforts of the Chinese government in promoting the Middle East peace process. Jiang Yu, Deputy Director General of the Information Department presided over the briefing, which was attended by more than 40 Chinese and foreign journalists.

Ambassador Wu first introduced the policies and position of the Chinese government on the Middle East. He said that the Chinese Government attaches great importance to the Middle East issue. In 2002, the Chinese government appointed the Special Envoy to the Middle East, the first special envoy appointed by the Chinese government. "Since I took over as the Special Envoy to the Middle East, I visited nine Middle Eastern countries including Egypt, Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Qatar, Algeria, and Iran. I also visited Russia. During the visits, I had extensive contacts with state leaders, parliamentarians, the media and think tanks, and exchanged in-depth views with them on the current Middle East issue, bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern. I wish to give you a brief summary in the following four aspects:

First, to build up confidence and seize the opportunity. The Middle East issue is a long-standing and very complex issue. The Middle East experienced both the war times and the years of peace. We always believe that the peace process should be pushed forward through peaceful negotiations. Only in this way, will the opportunity of peace talks not be missed.

Second, to send out good will and build up mutual trust. The Middle East issue is very complicated. There has been a long-term confrontation between the Palestinian and Israeli sides and there has been a lack of mutual trust between them. They should gradually establish mutual trust through negotiations and find a way to resolve the differences.

Third, to adhere to the consensus and take a bold step forward. A number of important consensuses were reached at the 1991 Madrid Conference, including the "land for peace" principle. In 2002, the "Arab Peace Initiative" proposed by Saudi Arabia, was unanimously adopted at the Arab League Summit. The parties concerned should adhere to the consensuses and push forward the peace process.

Fourth, to unite all parties to advance the peace process. The Middle East issue is anfractuous and relates to many issues. The international community has the responsibility to make efforts, create synergy, and propel the Middle East issue toward a more positive direction."

Ambassador Wu answered the questions raised by the journalists.

With respect to the recent developments of the Middle Eastern situation and the expectations of related countries for China, Ambassador Wu said that notable changes have taken place in the Middle Eastern situation. Some people believed that the Middle East issue is at a "new crossroad". Such view may be based on the following factors: first, the Middle East issue becomes prominently urgent. From the end of last year to the beginning of this year, some large-scale military operations happened in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in heavy casualties. The international community now has a new understanding of the urgency of the Palestinian issue; second, since the new government came to power in the United States, it paid attention to the settlement of the Middle East issue and the dispute between the Arab states and Israeli, which created a good atmosphere for the settlement of the Middle East issue; third, the parties concerned in the region should seize the opportunity and reiterate the adherence to the "Arab Peace Initiative" as a basis for peace talks. Israel formed a new government and the international community has intensified efforts to promote peace in the Middle East, such as the International Conference on the Middle East to be held in Russia at the end of this year. The latest developments have brought some opportunities to the Middle East issue.

Ambassador Wu said that the countries in the Middle East attached great importance to the visits of China's Special Envoy to the Middle East. This is because on one hand China has upheld a fair position over the long haul and on the other hand China has played a positive role in making peace and promoting the peace talks. In the course of the visits, the parties concerned all expressed the hope that China should play a more active role in the Middle East issue based upon the international influence of China as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. As the special envoy to the Middle East, I feel great pressure and responsibility.

Concerning the Middle East issue, China can play a role in two aspects. First, China can advance the Middle East peace process through bilateral engagements. China has maintained good bilateral relations and mutual trust with related countries in the Middle East. China can push forward related work through bilateral channels. Second, China can conduct some work through the United Nations and other multilateral occasions. The Middle East issue is a concern to the international community. China has not forgotten its responsibilities and China has been persistently making efforts to make peace and promote the peace talks.

China actively supports all the plans, initiatives and actions conducive to promoting the Middle East peace process. A lot of countries have set up the special envoys to the Middle East. They can establish contacts, form synergy, and jointly promote the Middle East peace process. In the 1990's, China hosted the water resources meeting under the multilateral meeting on the Middle East peace talks to help Palestine and Israel establish mutual trust. China then held a seminar for the peace-loving Palestinian and Israeli. In light of the development of the situation, the Chinese side will continue to promote similar activities and create a good atmosphere for the Middle East peace process. The international community should not end its work when the meetings on the Middle East issue end. The meetings should also produce outcome execution mechanism. Russia also agreed with this opinion. The Chinese side will continue to actively promote the establishment and improvement of such mechanisms.

With regard to the impact of the Sixth Fatah Congress on the Middle East peace talks, Ambassador Wu said that the convening of the Sixth Fatah Congress is an important conference in the history of Fatah. "I hope through this conference Fatah can strengthen the ties and solidarity with other Palestinian groups and parties." In his view, even though the Palestinian side faced some difficulties and obstacles in convening the conference, the conference was held after all. China wishes to express congratulations. China expects and wishes that Fatah could continue to play a leading and coordinating role among the Palestinian groups and parties and truly create favorable conditions for the next-step peace talks.

Talking about the views of the Middle Eastern countries on the adjustments made by the United States on its policies toward the Middle East, Ambassador Wu said that the Arab countries are generally cautiously optimistic about the adjustments. They believed that the peace process is facing a good opportunity and should seize it. But at the same time they worried about the policy direction of the Israeli government. They looked to the U.S. government and hoped that the U.S. government could bring out a viable and specific program and the international community could increase efforts to promote peace and push the situation in the Middle East toward a more positive direction.

Speaking of the impact of the clash between Chinese citizens and Algerian natives in Algeria on the China-Algeria relations, Ambassador Wu said that China and Algeria are friends in adversity. The peoples of the two long-term treated each other equally over the long haul and showed mutual understanding and mutual tolerance to each other. They lived in harmony and forged a profound friendship. The Chinese government has been urging Chinese citizens abroad to respect local laws and local customs and cooperate whole-heartedly with local natives, which will not only serve local development and but also benefit the company, a win-win situation for both sides. This incident is just an isolated security incident, which will neither affect the overall situation of China-Algeria friendship nor affect China and the friendly relations between China and Islamic countries.

On the situation in Iran, the Iranian nuclear issue and the China-Iran energy cooperation, Ambassador Wu noted that the presidential election in Iran is the internal affairs of Iran. China respects the choice made by the Iranian people. China's position on the Iranian nuclear issue is consistent. China has always been supporting and safeguarding the international nuclear non-proliferation system, and opposing the possession of nuclear weapons by Iran. At the same time, Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. China is an active participant in the six-party mechanism and made active efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue through negotiations and dialogues. We urged the Iranian government to work with the international community so as to find a proper solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. Iran is an important country in the Middle East. China and Iran have a long-term friendly relationship. The two sides respect each other and have carried out mutually beneficial cooperation in many areas, which have been moving forward smoothly. Such cooperation will help to benefit the two peoples. The cooperation between China and Iran in oilfield development is in line with international rules.

In relation to the impact of the Urumqi "7.5" incident on the relationship between China and Islamic countries, Ambassador Wu stressed that the majority of countries in the Middle East are Islamic countries and developing countries. China and Islamic countries share many similar or identical concepts in history and culture. The relations between China and Islamic countries are good in general and enjoy a solid foundation. After the Urumqi "7.5" incident, the vast majority of Islamic countries showed their understanding and support to the measures adopted by the Chinese government to safeguard national unification, ethnic unity and social stability in accordance with the law. They adhered to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of other countries. China wishes to express sincere appreciation and gratitude.

China and Islamic countries have long been understanding and respecting each other and supporting each other on issues of major concerns and issues that involve the core interest of the two sides. China and Islamic countries carried out friendly cooperation in various fields on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. The Chinese government and people firmly support Islamic countries in their just cause of seeking for national independence and defending national sovereignty. China is willing to consolidate the friendship and strengthen cooperation with Islamic countries on the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence. Islamic countries will always be China's good friends, good partners, and good brother. We are confident in this.

Ambassador Wu stressed that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China is very concerned about the development of the situation in the Middle East. China is committed to advancing the Middle East peace process and is willing to play an active role in realizing equitability and lasting peace in the Middle East.