RAMALLAH, Dec. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei's chief of staff Hassan Abu Lebda said on Thursday that British Prime Minister Tony Blair will visit the Palestinian territories on Dec. 22.

    Lebda told reporters that Blair would meet Palestinian officials to discuss the peace process and the possibility of holding an international conference on the process.

    "Besides the possibility to hold an international conference aimed at re-launching the peace process in the region, the two sides will also discuss mechanisms of cooperation between Britain and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), which will help the PNA perform its duties in the future with different challenges," hesaid.

    The Palestinian official praised Blair's visit to the Palestinian territories as historic.

    Blair will also meet, through his visit to the region, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to discuss the possibility to hold the international conference on peace process that may be held in February in London.

    Meanwhile, Abu Lebda said that Blair's visit coincides with the visit of chief of International Bank, James Welfenston to the Palestinian territories that gains a special importance.

    The International Bank will undertake in big concern to continuethe economic plans that aims at re-building the Palestinian economic and urge the International sides to finance the Palestinian development plan. Enditem