RPT-China to send envoy to Middle East over Gaza

Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:32am EST

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BEIJING, Jan 10 (Reuters) - China's special Middle East envoy will return to the region in the coming days to press for a halt to fighting in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

The emissary, Sun Bigan, would visit Egypt, Gaza and Israel, spokesman Qin Gang said on the ministry's website (www. fmprc.gov.cn).

Qin expressed Beijing's serious concern about the escalating conflict, which has defied international efforts to stop it.

China is a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council but has traditionally wielded relatively little clout in the Middle East. (Reporting by Alan Wheatley; Editing by David Fox)



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