In talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel is willing to resolve the Middle East issue through peaceful negotiations.

Negotiations must be based on the peaceful co-existence of the "two countries", Olmert added.

Premier Wen told him China supports the achievement by Israel and Palestine of peaceful co-existence of "two countries and two nations" for common development.

"History and reality have proven that force cannot settle the Middle East issue but only increase estrangement and animosity," Wen said.

Wen said China sees the Palestinian issue as the core of the Middle East issue, and hopes Israel, Syria and Lebanon will take concrete measures to build mutual trust and create conditions for the resumption of peace talks.

"China is ready to contribute to the Middle East peace process and to dialogue between the Arab world and Israel," Premier Wen said.

Olmert appreciated China's efforts over the years in promoting the Middle East peace process. He also pledged to keep contacts with China on this matter.

On the Iranian nuclear issue, Wen reiterated China's support for the maintenance of the international non-proliferation system.

"Resolution 1737 adopted unanimously by the UN Security Council members reflects the concerns of the international community about the Iranian nuclear issue", Wen said, calling for the international community to continue efforts to promote an early resumption of negotiations on the issue.

"China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting the settlement of the issue", Wen noted.

Five days earlier, Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani visited China and conveyed Iran's message on the nuclear issue. During the talks between Larijani and Chinese President Hu Jintao, Hu expressed the hope that Iran will make a "serious response" to Resolution 1737.

"The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1737, which reflects the shared concerns of the international community over the Iranian nuclear issue, and we hope Iran will make a serious response to the resolution," Hu said.

The resolution adopted on Dec. 23, 2006 imposed sanctions against Iran for its failure to suspend its uranium enrichment program. The resolution demands that Iran "suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development" as well as "work on all heavy water-related projects." It also calls on all countries to impose a ban on trade with Iran in goods related to its nuclear programs and ballistic missile delivery systems.

As this year marks the 15th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Israel, the two premiers also spoke positively about the development of bilateral relations.

Wen proposed that the two countries deepen scientific and technological cooperation, especially in the information technology, agriculture, life science and energy sectors.

Olmert agreed that closer ties with China will serve the cause of peace and stability in the Middle East, saying Israel will expand trade and cooperation in technological research and development with China.

Olmert, son of a former Jewish resident of China, started his first official visit to China as a guest of Wen. Olmert said he has a close spiritual link with China.

The Israeli Premier's grandparents moved to Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, from Russia to flee persecution in the late 19th century. Olmert's parents grew up in Harbin before moving to Israel.

"This is a very exciting moment for me and I wish my parents were alive to see that we have come back to the place my family came from to strengthen relations between two great countries and two great nations," Olmert said during his talks with Wen.

Editor: Yan