Q: How does China comment on the latest development in the current Middle East situation?

A: The Chinese side has noticed that after lifting the restriction on the personal freedom of Chairman Arafat Israel has recently ended its siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. This is a positive step toward the relaxation of the situation. We hope that Israel could take further effective measures, actively respond to the peace-promoting efforts of the international community and earnestly implement the relevant resolutions of the Security Council so as to create conditions for reducing the tension in the Middle East and reviving the Middle East peace process at an early date.