¡¡¡¡BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- China is seriously concerned and anxious about the escalating Middle East situation, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said at a regular press conference here Tuesday.

¡¡¡¡Zhang said China hopes that the relevant parties will focus on the overall situation, keep restraint, cease violence and start peace talks as soon as possible in cooperation with the international community so as to ease the tensions in the Middle East region.

¡¡¡¡The Chinese special envoy Wang Shijie had embarked on a Middle East trip on Oct. 17, according to the spokeswoman. Wang met with Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Otri and met and conferred with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara onMonday.

¡¡¡¡"It was due to the escalating deteriorated situation in the Middle East that China dispatched the special envoy to the Middle East region," said Zhang.

¡¡¡¡She said that besides Syria, Special Envoy Wang will also visit Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Israel, and exchange views with the officials of these countries on the Middle East peace process.

¡¡¡¡Zhang said China hopes to cooperate with the international community to bring the current situation onto a correct track of peaceful negotiations and realize peace and stability in the region. Enditem