China to send envoy to ease Middle East tensions

Beijing: China's ambassador to the Middle East will return to the region to push for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

Envoy Sun Bigan will travel travel to Egypt, Israel and Palestinian territories "to promote the alleviation of tensions," the ministry said in a statement.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said his government was "seriously concerned with the ceaselessly escalating tensions in Gaza."