BEIJING, April 5 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Tang 
Jiaxuan said Friday China welcomes U.S. Secretary of State Colin 
Powell to go to the Middle East for mediation.
   China hopes Powell's visit to the region will help reverse the 
very dangerous situation in the Middle East, Tang said in a 
telephone conversation with Powell Friday evening.
   Tang said China hopes the U.S. would play an active role in 
easing the conflict between Israel and Palestine. China has been 
working for the realization of peace and stability in the Middle 
East and is ready to maintain consultation and cooperation with 
the U.S. on this issue, he added.
   Powell briefed Tang about the U.S.' view on the current 
situation in the Middle East, saying that President George W. Bush
will send him to the region. Powell said the United States will 
make the utmost efforts to calm down the situation in the region.
   Tang told Powell that he had had telephone talks with 
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Secretary-General of the 
League of Arab States Amr Mahmoud Moussa, respectively, Friday 
afternoon.
   The Chinese side is deeply concerned with and worried about the
escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent days, he 
said.
   Tang pointed out that it is the most important at present to 
urge the Israeli side to implement the resolutions of the United 
Nations Security Council, withdraw all troops from Palestine and 
lift the siege of President Arafat.
   Tang and Powell also exchanged views on major issues such as 
Sino-U.S. relations and the situation in South Asia.  Enditem