China: We Will Continue to Work for a Settlement of the Palestinian Issue

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs quoted China's special envoy for the Middle East, Chai Jun, on Friday, stating that Beijing will continue to work hard to encourage a prompt and appropriate resolution to the Palestinian issue. During his meeting with ambassadors from Middle Eastern countries in Beijing, the special envoy expressed China's deep concern regarding the escalation of conflict between Israel, the Palestinians, and Lebanon, calling for the utmost calm and restraint from all parties, especially Israel. Cautious calm returned on Friday morning to the Israeli borders with Lebanon and the Gaza Strip after a night that witnessed Israeli shelling of targets in southern Lebanon and Gaza, with Palestinian factions responding with rockets towards southern Israel.