Special report: Concern mounts over Yasser Arafat's health 

    BEIJING, Nov. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- China expressed condolences over Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's death, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhang Qiyue here Thursday.

    Chinese President Hu Jintao on Thursday has sent a letter of condolences to Rawhi Fattuh, speaker of the Palestine Legislative Council, on the death of Arafat, Zhang told a regular press conference.

    In the letter, the president extended sincere condolences to the Palestinian people and Arafat's relatives, praising him as "founder and proponent" of Sino-Palestinian relations and having made great contributions to consolidating and developing the friendship between the two nations and two peoples, Zhang said.

    To realize peace in the Middle East at an early date is a life-long goal of Arafat and a common wish of the region as well, Zhangsaid, and China has always been devoted to promoting peace through dialogue on the Middle East issue.

    "China advocates peacefully resolving the conflicts between Palestine and Israel through political negotiation and on the basis of relevant UN resolutions and the principle of 'land for peace'," she said.

    "China is willing to make joint efforts with the international community to continue the work for all-round and lasting peace in the Middle East."

    Chinese President Hu Jintao's special envoy, Vice Premier Hui Liangyu, will fly to Cairo, Egypt, Thursday afternoon to attend Arafat's funeral, Zhang told reporters.

    The 75-year-old Arafat died in a French military hospital at 3:30 am (0230GMT) local time on Thursday. Enditem