CHINESE PRESIDENT DISCUSSES GAZA WITH BUSH

BY THAM CHOY LIN

BEIJING, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- President Hu Jintao discussed the worsening
situation in Gaza with his United States counterpart George W.Bush in a
telephone conversation Sunday evening to mark 30 years of bilateral ties.

Hu said China was "seriously concerned" over the escalation of the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict and was "deeply worried" about the humanitarian
crisis in Gaza, according to the Foreign Ministry here on its website.

The Chinese leader called for an immediate stop to the armed conflict to
ease tensions and a political solution resolve the situation, the Foreign
Ministry said.

Both China and the U.S. are permanent members of the United Nations Security
Council which failed to finalise a statement on Gaza after opposition from
Washington.

During the telephone call, Hu and Bush, who exits office this month,
exchanged congratulations on three decades of relations.

"President Hu agreed with Bush's positive comments on China-U.S. relations
and hailed his efforts to develop a constructive and cooperative Sino-U.S.
relationship. In the new historical period of time, China and the United
States, through their joint efforts, will surely be able to stay firm in the
general direction of the China-U.S. constructive and cooperative relationship
and promote sound, stable, all-round and in-depth development of bilateral
ties," the Foreign Ministry said.

-- BERNAMA