On August 24, President Jiang Zemin met with Yasser Arafat, President of the State of Palestine and Chairman of the Palestinian National Authority, at Zhongnanhai. The two sides held warm and friendly talks.

Jiang warmly welcomed Arafat’s another visit to China. He said that the Chinese government and he himself have always been concerned with the development in Mideast. He paid a visit to the region last year. He can thus thoroughly understand the difficult situation of the Palestinian people and feel sympathy for their sufferings and economic losses.

He told Arafat that the Chinese people remain sincere friends of the Arab people, the Palestinian people in particular, and take a firm, consistent stance on the just cause of the Palestinian people for restoring their legal national rights. China has always believed that a peaceful solution to the Middle East issue is the best way. China appreciates the efforts made by the Palestinian people for adhering to peace. The Chinese people have always stood on the side of the Palestinian people and supported the efforts made by the international community for quelling conflict. China has supported, and will continue to support, the sending of international observers to the region of the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

Arafat extended gratitude for the precious support given by the Chinese leaders, government and people to the just cause of the Palestinian people amid their worst difficulties. He briefed Jiang on the random use of force by Israel and consequently the damage of the peace process in the region. He also explained the efforts made by Palestine to halt the conflict. Arafat praised China's steady support for the peace process in the region. China supports sending international observers to the Middle East region and has made tireless efforts to calm the conflict made in the United Nations and other international organizations. China's support has encouraged the Palestinian people and Palestine will continue to strive for peace.