Hamas minister to visit China, E Asia

Israeland the United States have been trying to isolate the Islamic militant group, which won parliamentary elections in January and formally took control of the Palestinian Authority last week.

"We will visit countries of East Asia, and China will be the first country we will visit in that region," Zahar told reporters. "I have spoken to the ambassador and they are ready to receive a Palestinian delegation any time."

At a joint press conference with Zahar, China's representative in the West Bank and Gaza, Yang Wei Guo, said Beijing respected Hamas's election victory, adding: "We have explained the Chinese position that supports the Palestinian people in their just struggle to regain the national rights and to regain occupied land."

Zahar did not say which other countries in Asia he planned to visit.

Hamas officials said on Monday that they held talks two months ago with French officials and more recently with an Indian diplomat, despite US and Israeli pressure on countries to shun the group until it renounces violence and recognizes Israel.