Chinese Foreign Minister highlights al-Assad's visit to China

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Li Zhaoxing, described the state visit by President Bashar al-Assad to China this week as a great event in the process of the Chinese-Syrian relations, stressing his country's deep interest in this visit.

Li Zhaoxing, in an interview with the Syria Arab News Agency ( SANA ), expressed confidence that President Assad's visit to China will yield positive results and would give a strong momentum to the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two countries in all fields.

The Chinese Foreign Minister reiterated his country's stand in support of Arab rights and the Middle East peace process as well as the resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict on the basis of the relevant international resolutions and the land-for-peace formula. He also called for activating the role of the United Nations in resolving the Middle East issue.

The Chinese Foreign Minister said his country rejects double-standard policy in the international relations, adding that China objects to imposition of sanctions instead of tackling disputes on the basis of equality and consultations.

In the interview, Li Zhaoxing also stressed necessity of ending the occupation of Iraq and the restoration of sovereignty to the Iraqi people as soon as possible.