Building on recent efforts to demonstrate its non-proliferation
credentials, China has reiterated its desire to join an influential
export control group, the Missile Technology Control Regime
(MTCR).
The 33-nation group, founded in 1987 by the G7 countries in
Rome, held a second round of talks with China this week in Beijing,
Liu said at Thursday's regular news briefing.
Liu said the meeting was co-chaired by Liu Jieyi, director of
the Department of Arms Control and Disarmament under the Chinese
Foreign Ministry, and Carlos Sersale, chairman of the MTCR and an
ambassador from Argentina, and attended by officials and experts
from MTCR member nations including Britain, France, Russia, Canada,
the Republic of Korea, Ukraine and Japan.
"Both sides believe that the two rounds of talks are of great
significance to promoting mutual trust and understanding between
China and the MTCR and international cooperation in the field of
non-proliferation," said Liu.
Carlos Sersale said the regime will actively consider China's
application, according to Liu.
China had a first round of consultations on its joining the regime
with representatives of MTCR in Paris in January.
The MTCR includes major nations such as the United States,
Britain, Russia, Japan, Italy, France and the Ukraine. Two more
rounds of talks are scheduled this year between the group and China
to clear up "old differences" and to evaluate Chinese export
controls to see if they conform with MTCR standards, sources
said.
All current regime members would need to approve China's
accession into the regime.
During his term as the MTCR's rotating chairman from September
2002 to September 2003, Mariusz Handzlik invited Beijing's
participation in the group.
China sent a letter to the MTCR chairman last September
indicating it was "ready to positively consider applying for
joining the MTCR."
There were some clear public indications earlier this year of
China's decision to formally join when Chinese President Hu Jintao
was in Paris in January. A joint statement released after the
meeting noted that France supports China's entry into the body "at
the earliest possible date."
China released a white paper on its non-proliferation policies
and measures last December in which it outlined its attitude and
measures taken on the export of missiles and related
technologies.
In response to news that New Delhi announced on Tuesday that the
new National Security Advisor Jyotindra Nath Dixit will be India's
new special representative for ongoing talks with China on border
issues, Liu did not give exact dates for discussions between Dixit
and China's Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo.
However, External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh said the next
meeting of the two special representatives would be held soon.
Dixit replaces Brajesh Mishra, who, as the Vajpayee government's
security advisor and special representative, has already conducted
two rounds of talks with Dai Bingguo.
The Sino-Indian boundary question was left over by Britain
colonialists.
China and India share a 2,000-kilometer border, with disputed
areas of about 125,000 square kilometers.
The two countries fought a brief war over the border in 1962,
which greatly impaired relations.
When asked to comment on the issue of nine female Chinese
students in Japan being watched by a hidden camera, which happened
on May 9, Liu said the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Chinese
Consulate General in Osaka will pay close attention to the
event.
Liu said that the nine Chinese girls had reported to the police
after finding the camera in their dressing room, and the Chinese
Foreign Ministry had asked the Chinese Consulate General in Osaka
to dispatch officials to the spot.
The consulate officials met the nine Chinese students and lodged
representation for the local police, noting that this event
severely infringed on Chinese students' human rights, Liu said.
The Chinese side demanded the Japanese police to carefully
investigate the event and to deal with the event fairly in line
with the Japanese law, Liu said.
Turning to the Iraq issue, the spokesman welcomed the revised UN
draft resolution on Iraq submitted by the United States and
Britain, which had accommodated the views of some other countries,
including China.
"The Chinese side welcomes the revision of the United States and
Britain on the UN Security Council draft resolution on the Iraq
issue," said Liu. "It reflects some views and concerns of China and
some other nations."
Liu acknowledged that China is carefully studying the draft, and
will maintain contacts and consultations with the relevant
sides.
"We hope the UN Security Council will reach consensus over the
draft resolution, so as to stabilize the security situation in Iraq
and promote the reconstruction process as soon as possible," he
said.
"We also hope the Security Council will extensively listen to
the views of Iraq, other Arabian nations and UN Secretary-General
Kofi Annan," the spokesman said.
In another development, Liu said the Chinese government
expressed deep concern over the clashes happened in Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC).
When asked to comment on the recent conflicts in the eastern DRC
town of Bukavu, Liu said the clashes had caused civilian casualty
and threatened the security of the peace keeping personnel of the
United Nations (UN).
The Chinese side condemned the clashes and violent activities in
the DRC and urged concerned parties to immediately stop the
hostility action, to follow the agreement on ceasing fire, and to
ensure the security of the UN peace keeping personnel and
institutions, including the Chinese peace keeping personnel.
As to the current situation of the Chinese peace keeping
personnel, Liu said China had dispatched some 200 personnel in
Bukavu including sappers and medical groups, and they were all
safe.
Liu said the Chinese Embassy to the DRC and China's Ambassador
to the DRC Cui Yongqian attached great importance to the security
of the Chinese peace keeping personnel and kept 24-hour contact
with them for emergency.
"To our gratification, no casualty happened in the Chinese
personnel", Liu said.
Also at yesterday's briefing, Liu confirmed the Shanghai company
offering US visa counseling services that was suspended from
operation April 23 for failing to implement required legal
procedures, has resumed operation Thursday.
Liu said the company became aware its problems and readjusted
its charging standard, and the Chinese authority therefore issued
the license to the company as an exception based on the company's
application.
China made the decision not to let family visits and business
and tourist travel of Chinese citizens to the United States be
affected by the event, said Liu, and the Chinese authority also
demanded the company to strictly implement the relevant legal
procedures and adopt a fair charging standard.
According to the information from the US Embassy in China, the
company is authorized by the US State Department to provide charged
counseling for US visa information and appointment reservation
services. The company is registered in Shanghai and the charging
standard is decided by the US State Department.
(Sources including China Daily and Xinhua News Agency, June 4,
2004)