China's Mideast envoy Wu Sike (L) meets with Syrian Vice President Faruk al-Shareh in Damascus, Syria, June 29, 2009. (Xinhua/Gong Zhenxi) Photo Gallery>>>

    by Xinhua writer Liu Yuehua

    DAMASCUS, June 29 (Xinhua) -- China's new special envoy to the Middle East Wu Sike said on Monday in an interview with Xinhua that the concerning parties of the Mideast peace process should hold confidence to make progress.

    Wu, who arrived in Damascus on Monday, starting the fifth leg of his first visit to the Middle East as China's new special envoy.

    After meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mualem and Vice President Faruk Shareh, he told Xinhua that Syria and China has enjoyed good bilateral relationships and Syria appreciates China's role in the region and the Mideast peace process.

China's Mideast envoy Wu Sike (L) meets with Syrian Vice President Faruk al-Shareh in Damascus, Syria, June 29, 2009. (Xinhua/Gong Zhenxi) Photo Gallery>>>

    "It is necessary to enhance the coordination and communication between two countries," said Wu.

    He also stressed that just and comprehensive Mideast peace could only be achieved by abiding by the relevant international resolutions and the land-for-peace principles.

    "We held good talks with Minister Mualem on the latest developments in the region," the Chinese official said, adding "we support the return of the occupied Golan heights and the establishment of a viable Palestine state with independent sovereignty."

    Wu, former Chinese ambassador to Egypt, was appointed as the special envoy in March this year to replace Sun Bigan.

    He has been director of the Department of West Asian and North African Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and also the first Chinese plenipotentiary to the Arab League.

Visiting China's Mideast envoy Wu Sike (L) meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem in Damascus, Syria, June 29, 2009. (Xinhua/Gong Zhenxi) Photo Gallery>>>

    Before visiting Syria, Wu has already visited Egypt, the Palestinian territories, Israel and Jordan.

    He told reporters that although some positive signs has turned up in the region, confidence is still needed, because "we have a long and tough way ahead to finally reach a just and comprehensive peace in the region."

    During his first stop in Egypt on June 21, Wu met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abu Gheit, and he also had talks with the Cairo-based Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa.

    The Chinese official told Egyptian officials that "Negotiation is the only and the best way to solve the conflicts in the region and China will support all the efforts in this regard."

    After holding dialogues with Arab and Israeli officials, Wu noted that Arab world has seen the positive factors in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent foreign policy speech, which conditionally accepted the two state solution for the first time.

    However, the Arab world widely opposed the preconditions of establishing a Palestinian state in Netanyahu's speech, highlighting the Palestinian state is unable to exist with those conditions, said Wu.

    "Israel could not achieve its ultimate security until Israel and the Palestinians realize their peaceful coexistence," said the Chinese envoy, noting that "I have urged the Israeli leaders and politicians to accept the two state solution, stop establishing settlements and negotiate with Syria and Lebanon with concerning issues."

    Meanwhile, the Chinese envoy, who is also scheduled to visit Lebanon and Russia, stressed that China is willing to support with all effort to make peace in the Middle East.

    "Both Arab world and Israel are waiting for the other side to make a substantial step, therefore the international community needs to push forward the process," said Wu.