Chinese FM to attend Mideast peace conference in US next week

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will attend a Mideast peace conference in the United States next week, a government spokesman said Thursday. "We're willing to take part in all international efforts that will be conducive to the proper settlement of this issue," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao. China's decision to take part reflects its more active role recently in world politics and peacemaking, and growing commercial and diplomatic ties with the Middle East. "I think the international conference ... has attracted the attention of the international community, including Arab countries, and we all have high expectations and hope substantial results can be achieved," Liu said at a regular ministry briefing.