China is willing to further cooperate with the international community in the fight against terrorism, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao in Beijing Tuesday.

 

Liu said at a regular press conference the position that China holds in fighting terrorism has always been very clear. China stands for countering terrorism of any form and calls on international cooperation in this respect.

 

The counter-terrorism cooperation China has carried out can be called "multilateral," Liu said.

 

China has cooperated effectively not only with big powers like the United States and Russia, but also with neighboring countries, especially member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Such cooperation, in the fields of diplomacy, information and military, will be continued.

 

Zhao Yongchen, deputy director of the counter-terrorism bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, has said very clearly that China is willing to cooperate with the international community in combating terrorism and the Chinese government hopes the other countries in the world to support China's fight against terrorism.

 

At a press conference in Beijing Monday, Zhao called on authorities in all countries to disband the "Eastern Turkistan" terrorist organizations China has identified, ban their activities in their territories, forbid support, financing and harboring of these organizations and to freeze their assets.

 

The Chinese Ministry of Public Security made public at Monday's press conference four identified "Eastern Turkistan" terrorist organizations, namely, East Turkistan Islamic Movement, East Turkistan Liberation Organization, World Uygur Youth Congress and East Turkistan Information Center, along with a list of 11 identified members of the organizations.

 

Liu quoted Zhao as saying that China urges the governments of all nations to carry out criminal investigation into the 11 identified terrorists according to law, capture and transfer them to China to bear their criminal responsibility.

 

The spokesman also denied that China had helped the Iraqi army make military plans to combat the US and Britain forces, saying such reports are totally "groundless."

 

Liu was asked to comment on a report that Chinese anti-aircraft experts helped the Iraqi army to plan combat air raid operations by the coalition forces of the United States and Britain in 2002-2003 in violation of related UN resolutions on sanctions against Iraq.

 

Liu said such reports were totally "groundless and irresponsible."

 

"China has always strictly abided by all UN resolutions on Iraq," said Liu. "China never had military contact and exchanges of any kind with the regime of Saddam Hussein after the Gulf war crisis in 1990."

 

With respect to the date of the second round of six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue, the spokesman said it is yet to be determined because there are still differences among the parties concerned.

 

The six-party talks, involving The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, Russia, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan and China, aimed to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and contribute to peace and stability in Northeast Asia and the world.

 

The three-day first round of talks, held in Beijing in late August, was regarded as a good beginning for the peaceful resolution of the DPRK nuclear issue.

 

Liu said China had done a lot to prepare for the second round of talks, with support from all parties.

 

China had consistently held that the peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue through dialogue conformed to the interests of all parties and was therefore the only correct choice.

 

Acknowledging that the parties were in close consultation, Liu said China hoped they would show greater flexibility and continue to prepare for the second round at an early date.

 

Also at yesterday’s briefing, the spokesman said China's diplomatic efforts in 2003 are "positive, constructive and fruitful," and China is willing to enhance cooperation with the international community for world peace and stability.

 

Liu said China's new leadership has adhered to the independent foreign policy of peace, maintaining its continuity and stability.

 

At the same time, the Chinese government has progressed with the times and actively explored further development in diplomacy.

 

Liu said China continues to develop friendly relations with its neighbors, enhance cooperative ties with developed countries, and has made new progress in expanding friendship and cooperation with developing countries.

 

China earnestly fulfills its international obligations and holds international disputes should be properly settled through dialogue and talks. China has played a constructive role in dealing with major issues, strengthening international counter-terrorism cooperation and maintaining world peace and stability.

 

It is China's view that peace and development remain the two major themes of the present era, the spokesman said. However, non-traditional security issues, such as terrorism, environmental protection, transnational crimes and severe acute respiratory syndrome, have posed grave challenges to world peace and development. China is willing to enhance cooperation with all countries and make its due contribution to safeguarding world peace and stability.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2003)