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On November 11, 2004, President Hu Jintao sent a message to Rawhi Fattuh, speaker of the Palestine Legislative Council, expressing his sincere condolences on the death of Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian State, President of the Palestinian National Authority as well as Chairman of Executive Committee of Palestinian Liberation Organization.

Hu said in the message that President Arafat has been a great leader and an outstanding statesman who had dedicated his whole life to the just cause of restoring the rights of the Palestinian people. He enjoys not only profound respect among his people but also great prestige in the international community.

Arafat was a founder and proponent of Sino-Palestinian relations and made remarkable contributions to consolidating and developing the friendship between the two countries and peoples. His passing away is a great loss for Palestinians. The Chinese people have lost a great friend. I am convinced that the Palestinian government and people will carry forward Arafat's uncompleted work and continue to make unremitting efforts to advance the peace process in the Middle East and to resolve the Middle East issue through political means. China stands ready to work with the Palestinian side to further boost bilateral friendly and cooperative relations.