BEIJING - China on Friday welcomed Bahrain's decision to lift a state of emergency and launch national dialogue.

The Bahraini government lifted on Wednesday a state of national safety it imposed on March 15, and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa also called to start national dialogue.

"We hope that Bahrain will resume social stability and realize long-term peace at an early date," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement.