Syria's president in Saudi for talks with king

Damascus and Riyadh step up efforts to build Arab unity (File)

RIYADH (Agencies)

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad headed to Riyadh on Wednesday for talks with King Abdullah in the Saudi capital, where earlier China endorsed efforts to create an independent Palestinian state.

The king greeted Assad at Riyadh airport and the two headed to Abdullah's private desert farm Janadiriyah outside the capital where the monarch was to host a dinner, the official SPA news agency said.

The visit comes amid stepped-up efforts by Riyadh to build Arab unity around the Palestinians ahead of a possible resumption of peace talks with Israel. It has also been seeking to isolate Iran, which is a key ally of Syria, over its controversial nuclear programme. Damascus-Riyadh ties were severely strained for years, notably over Syria's role in Lebanon and its support for Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah, before a thaw marked by landmark Damascus trip by Abdullah in October.

China backs Palestine " China will continue its support for the Palestinian effort to establish an independent state " Chinese foreign minister Meanwhile also in Saudi on Wednesday, China endorsed efforts to create an independent Palestinian state as Saudi Arabia hardened its accusations that Israel is preventing a settlement of the Middle East conflict. "China will continue its support for the Palestinian effort to establish an independent state," Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on a visit to Riyadh. Yang said at a news conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal that China supports the principles of a two-state solution under the Saudi-driven Arab Peace Initiative, which calls for an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders and with Jerusalem as its capital. Saud, meanwhile, stepped up the rhetoric over Israel's refusal to freeze the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and begin talks with the Palestinians. "This is the longest conflict in modern times," Saud said. "The reason why this conflict is long is the refusal by Israel of all the attempts to end this conflict. Arab countries have done their job with the Arab Peace Initiative, which gives Israel security, and gives the Arab countries the restoration of their lands. "But peace should be established by two sides, not just one side. If one side does not want peace, peace will not be achieved," he said. The comments came as both the United States and Saudis have increased efforts to push the Palestinians and Israelis into final-status peace talks that would result in an independent Palestinian state.