China yesterday welcomed a landmark nuclear arms control treaty to
be signed by the United States and Russia next week. China also
urged the two sides to do more to guarantee global arms control and
disarmament.
"In the spirit of verifiability and non-reversibility, they should
further reduce their arms and push forward the international
process of arms control and disarmament," Kong Quan, the Foreign
Ministry spokesman, said at yesterday's regular media briefing.
Kong said that countries with the largest arsenals have "special
and prime" responsibilities in arms control and disarmament.
US
President George W. Bush announced on Monday the agreement with
Russia to cut their nuclear arsenals.
Bush said he would sign the agreement with Russian President
Vladimir Putin when the two meet in Moscow later this month.
The disarmament agreement, as envisioned, would require each
country to reduce its nuclear arsenal with an agreed-upon range of
1,700 to 2,200 warheads.
Bush and Putin are to meet from May 23 to 26 in Moscow and St.
Petersburg. Negotiators from the two countries have been trying to
work out a formal document cementing the reductions.
Dalai Lama
Turning to the Dalai Lama's visit to Australia next week, Kong said
the Dalai Lama has long engaged in activities to split the
motherland and create independence for Tibet.
Kong said that the Dalai Lama was not simply a religious person,
but once the biggest owner of serfs.
"We oppose the meeting with the Dalai Lama and invitations by any
official from any country or region under any pretext," Kong
said.
Middle East
Regarding the current situation in the Middle East, Kong said China
is pleased that Israel lifted its blockade of Palestinian President
Yasser Arafat and ended its siege of the Church of the Nativity in
Bethlehem.
Kong called it a positive step towards easing the tension and urged
Israel to respond positively to international peace efforts,
implement relevant resolutions adopted by the United Nations
Security Council and take further steps to revive peace talks.
Tang's visit
Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan's upcoming visit to Afghanistan will
be important because the Afghan people are beginning to rebuild
their country, said Kong.
It
will be the first visit to Afghanistan by a Chinese foreign
minister since 1965, when the late Vice Premier and Foreign
Minister Chen Yi visited the country, Kong said.
(China
Daily May 15, 2002)