China supports Middle East peace progress

The Chinese Foreign Minister, Qian Qichen, has met Israeli leaders and assured them that China would do whatever it could to push forward the stalled Middle East peace process.

Speaking in Jerusalem after meeting the Israeli Foreign Minister, David Levy, Mr Qian said he had also told Israel that Beijing was not supplying Iran with rockets or weapons technology; Mr Levy is reported to have expressed his satisfaction with China's assurance.

Mr Qian is due to meet the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, today Tuesdaybefore moving on to Egypt in his Midde East tour.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service