China said it had no plans yet to receive Palestinian foreign minister Mahmud
al-Zahar, two days after the Hamas politician announced he would visit the Asian
giant.
"As for the issue of foreign minister Zahar leading a Hamas delegation to
China, as far as we know, China at the present stage does not have such a plan
yet," the Chinese foreign ministry said in statement faxed to AFP.
Zahar, regarded as a Hamas hawk and firebrand, said on Tuesday he was
planning to tour countries in East Asia, "starting with China," in late May.
"We are going to visit China and we have let the ambassador know," Zahar told
reporters in Gaza after meeting the Chinese envoy to the Palestinian
territories, Yang Weiguo.
While apparently issuing a denial of this, the Chinese foreign ministry,
citing Yang, signaled its willingness to carry on friendly ties with the
Palestinians.
"At the same time (China) hopes the new Palestinian government will undertake
active steps to continue to push forward the Middle East peace process."
A visit to Beijing would have made China the second United Nations Security
Council member after Russia to host Hamas leaders since the radical Islamist
organization won a shock Palestinian election victory in January.
Israel has called on all foreign powers not to invite the Hamas leadership
for talks before the movement, blacklisted as a terrorist organization in the
West, reforms.
The armed wing of the radical Islamist movement has carried out scores of
suicide bombings in Israel. Its charter calls for the destruction of the Jewish
state and cites armed struggle as the key to solving the Middle East conflict.
The United States, Canada and the Netherlands have all said they would have
no contact with Hamas until it gives up the right to armed struggle and
recognises Israel.
China had been cautious, but relatively welcoming, in its response to the
Hamas election victory in January.
"We are willing to maintain and develop our friendly relations with
Palestine," Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing told a press conference in
early March.
"China has been providing support and assistance to Palestine within its
capacity... we will earnestly consider future Palestinian requests for
assistance."