Chinese special envoy Wang Shijie will visit Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Palestine from October 18, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told a regular news briefing yesterday.

The special envoy will hold talks on the Middle East peace process and make constructive efforts to ease ongoing tensions in the region, Zhang said.

China is seriously concerned and worried about the Middle East turmoil. "China has called many times for the two sides (Palestine and Israel) to resolve their disputes through negotiations and end the violence.'' Zhang said.

Turning to the upcoming of the 11th Asian Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Economic Leaders Informal Meeting in Bangkok, Zhang said China has paid great attention to APEC and has contributed to liberalizing trade and investment in Asia in economic and technical arenas.

During this meeting, President Hu Jintao will elaborate on Chinese views put forward proposals on scientific and technological innovation and labour protection, the spokeswoman said, while giving no direct response on whether the yuan's exchange rate would be discussed at the meeting.

"The basic stability of yuan's exchange is conducive to both regional and the world's economic development, and more and more countries have reached consensus on this,'' she said.

APEC leaders will meet on October 20-21.

Also at yesterday's briefing, Zhang said China was pleased at the resumption of ambassador-level diplomatic relations with Liberia which took effect from October 11.

"China will go on supporting Liberia's peace process and working for its stability and construction,'' she said.

As developing countries, China and Liberia have much in common and should promote bilateral relations, the spokeswoman said.

United Nations diplomats have expressed the hope that China will participate in Liberian peacekeeping work. China has also expressed readiness to join and has recommended officials, military observers and civil police officers for the mission.

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