¡¡¡¡BEIJING, January 29 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing Tuesday that the now tense situation in the Middle East would be eased if the authority of Yassar Arafat and the Palestinian National Authority under his leadership was maintained.

¡¡¡¡Kong made the remarks at a regular press conference in response to a journalist's question.

¡¡¡¡Kong said that China believes that Arafat is the leader of the Palestinian people and symbolises the just cause of the Palestinian people.

¡¡¡¡His authority would also help revive peace talks between Israeland Palestine, he added.

¡¡¡¡On the current Middle East situation, Kong said that China has consistently opposed any violent action against civilians. He urged all related parties to be calm and restrained and to take effective measures to avoid further deterioration of the situation.

¡¡¡¡Meanwhile, all should actively seek peaceful ways to resolve the disputes, he said. Enditem