China defends Middle East oil imports

China on Wednesday denied that its increasing crude oil imports from the Middle East were against any third-party interests, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. "The energy cooperation between China and the Middle East is transparent and mutually beneficial, which is in the interests of both sides and isn't against any third-party interests, " Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a press conference in Beijing in response to a question on the matter. "As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China has always played a positive and constructive role in the peace, security, development and prosperity of the Middle East," Hua was quoted as saying. "Promoting peace and development in the Middle East contributes to the safety of global energy supply and is in the common interests of all parties," she added