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Jiang arrives in Palestinian territories

BETHLEHEM, (West Bank): Chinese President Jiang Zemin arrived here on Saturday on his first-ever visit to the Palestinian territories and was greeted by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

After receiving an official welcome and inspecting the Palestinian honour guard, the Chinese president went into talks with Arafat.

Jiang, who is also touring Israel and will stop over in Egypt, is due to visit Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, built over the spot where according to Christian tradition Jesus Christ was born.

Jiang will also attend a special session of the Palestinian Legislative Council and spend the night at Arafat's residence before visiting the holy sites in Jerusalem's Old City on Sunday. AFP