BEIRUT, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government has decided to provide one million U.S. dollars in urgent aid in cash to Lebanon to assist in its resettlement of citizens displaced by the country's border clashes with Israel.
Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Qian Minjian informed Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati of the decision during their meeting in Beirut on Thursday, according to a statement from the Chinese embassy.
Qian also briefed Mikati on China's principled position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
For his part, Mikati thanked the Chinese government for providing urgent aid and expressed the Lebanese government's high appreciation for China's efforts to resolve the current Palestinian-Israeli conflict and its long-term support for Lebanon.
The Lebanon-Israel border witnessed increased tension for nearly seven weeks after the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israeli sites on Oct. 8 in support of the Hamas attacks on Israel the previous day. Hezbollah's attacks prompted the Israeli forces to respond by firing heavy artillery toward several areas in southeastern Lebanon.
The increasing tensions forced tens of thousands of Lebanese to leave their houses in border areas for safety concerns. ■
