¡¡¡¡BEIRUT, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Mideast envoy Wang Shijie stressed on Saturday that a political and peaceful solution of the Iraq issue could help keep security and stability in the Mideast region and the whole world.

¡¡¡¡Following his talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Wang told reporters that China, which keeps close contacts with Arab states, participated in the negotiation of the UN resolution on the Iraq issue with a constructive manner.

¡¡¡¡He said an urgent affair at present is to allow UN weapons inspectors to return to Iraq and resume their work as soon as possible.

¡¡¡¡"If it (Iraq issue) is not solved politically, the Iraqi and Arab peoples will suffer more," Wang added.

¡¡¡¡At the same time, Wang reiterated that the legitimate right of the Arab states should be guaranteed while Israel's security and existance must be respected.

¡¡¡¡"We share same points of view (with Arab states) in many regional and international fields and it is necessary for us to keep in touch and maintain cooperation in an effort to promote the Mideast peace process and to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict,"he added.

¡¡¡¡Wang also met with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri Saturday morning. The Lebanese leaders expressed welcome to the envoy's visit to the Mideast region.

¡¡¡¡China named Wang as its first Mideast envoy in September at the request of Arab countries in order to promote a settlement to Middle East issues and an earlier end of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

¡¡¡¡Wang has visited Egypt and will leave Beirut on Saturday to continue his regional tour, which will take him to Syria, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian-ruled territories. Enditem

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