China on Thursday condemned the killing of Palestinians by
Israeli army in Rafah of the Gaza Strip.?
"China condemns the Israeli troops' firing at Palestinian
demonstrators that resulted in heavy casualties on the Palestinian
side," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao at a regular
news briefing.
At least 10 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others
injured on Wednesday when Israeli troops fired on a group of
demonstrators who were protesting against an Israeli military
operation in Rafah.
"We urge the Israeli side to respond to the appeal of the
international community, and immediately halt its military
operations in Palestinian areas to avoid further deterioration of
the situation," Liu said.
When asked to comment on whether China supports Brazil to join
the UN Security Council, Liu said China supports appropriate and
necessary reform of the United Nations Security Council, adding
that the major task for the UN Security Council reform is to
correct the current imbalance situation.
Liu said the reform should give priority to increasing
representatives from developing countries, in line with the
principle of balancing the geographical distribution.
China regards it as an important issue to improve the working
methods of the United Nations, and supports the UN Security Council
to take practical measures to increase the transparency in its
work, ensuring the working efficiency meanwhile, Liu said.
The reform should be related to all concerned parties'
interests, and all parties should reach consensus through in-depth
discussion, he said.
Liu confirmed that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
will pay a state visit to China from May 22 to 27 at the invitation
of Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Lula will hold talks with President Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao
respectively during his visit. The two sides will exchange views on
bilateral relations and international and regional affairs of
common concern, Liu said.
Lula will also attend the Global Conference on Poverty Reduction
in Shanghai, Liu added.
China attaches great importance to Brazil's influence in
international and regional affairs, and China is willing to further
promote the strategic partnership with Brazil based on the five
principles of peaceful co-existence, he said.
China and Brazil will sign a series of documents concerning the
cooperation in various fields during Lula's China tour, he
added.
When asked about a new development of China's planning to join
the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Liu said by joining the NSG,
China hopes to contribute more to international non-proliferation
efforts.
China supports NSG's role, objectives and principles in nuclear
non-proliferation, said Liu.
Established in 1975, the NSG is an unofficial organization of
nuclear capable countries exercising control on nuclear exports. It
has played an important role in nuclear non-proliferation and
nuclear export control.
In another development, the spokesman expressed appreciation
over Bangladesh's adherence to the one-China policy.
Liu said that Bangladesh on Wednesday officially notified China
that it had closed the so-called "Taipei representative office" in
Dacca, its capital.
"We greatly appreciate Bangladesh's sticking to the one-China
policy," Liu said.
Also at yesterday's briefing, the spokesman announced that at
the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Tanzanian President
Benjamin William Mkapa will visit China from May 28 to June 2, and
Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will visit China from May
26 to 30.
(Xinhua News Agency May 21, 2004)