Peres: China is Key to Preventing a Nuclear Iran

by Yori Yalon, Israel Hayom Staff and Reuters

President Shimon Peres tells Chinese counterpart Xi Jinpeng that "Iran is the center of terror in the world, exporting terror across the entire Middle East and beyond" • China is Israel's largest export destination in Asia.

 

 

President Shimon Peres is welcomed upon arriving in China | Photo credit: Amos Ben Gershom / GPO

President Shimon Peres on Tuesday began the first state visit to China by an Israeli president in 10 years.

Peres, who was invited by his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinpeng, is well regarded in China and was received with a military honor guard and a children's choir.

                                      

Credit: Reuters

 

During Tuesday's meeting, Peres emphasized that the Iranian nuclear program endangers the entire world.

"China has a central role in the efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb. Iran is the center of terror in the world. Iran funds terrorism and exports it across the entire Middle East and beyond," Peres said.

International talks on the Iranian nuclear issue resumed Tuesday in Vienna.

After the state meeting, the Chinese president hosted Peres for a dinner at the presidential palace. A Chinese military orchestra surprised Peres with a medley of Israeli songs.

Xi urged Israel to make "brave" decisions in the peace talks with the Palestinians.

"At present, the Israeli-Palestinian talks process has entered a crucial stage. There are opportunities and also many difficulties," Xi said. "[China] hopes that Israel keeps in mind the broader picture of peace, shows strategic wisdom, makes brave decisions as early as possible, and pushes, along with the international community and Palestinians, for substantive progress on peace talks."

Xi, who took office in March last year, did not outline any specific proposals for the peace talks, saying simply that China would keep "playing a constructive role."

Xi said the Chinese and Jewish peoples had long had friendly relations, pointing out China's role in fighting "fascism and militarism" during World War II.

According to data published by the Israeli Export and International Cooperation Institute, Israeli exports to China increased by 5 percent to $2.7 billion in 2013, making China Israel's largest export destination in Asia.

Yori Yalon, Israel Hayom Staff and Reuters Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=16765

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