China on Thursday welcomed the Russian parliament's recent
approval of the Kyoto Protocol. At yesterday's routine news
briefing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue hailed it a
"step forward" for Russia to become a member of the protocol.
The protocol is an important document in the implementation of
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,
providing a legal basis for the international committee to address
climate change, Zhang said.
"We hope those countries that haven't approved the protocol will
ratify the document as soon as possible so that the international
community can implement practical measures to handle the issue of
climate change," she said.
In another issue, the spokeswoman reiterated China would punish
snakeheads who organized illegal incursions into foreign schools or
diplomatic compounds.
Zhang said both the organizers and the immigrants will be dealt
with according to domestic law, international law and humanitarian
principles.
On October 26, Chinese police arrested 62 illegal migrants,
including two foreign organizers, who tried to break into a school
in a suburb of Beijing.
"China, like any other country in the world, will show zero
tolerance for these kinds of activities. China will punish the
organizers according to the law as well as combat illegal
immigration," she said.
A spate of break-ins have taken place over the last couple of
days, in which groups of illegal immigrants have tried to climb
over fences into embassies and foreign schools, Zhang said.
On six-party talks, China hopes all sides involved will adopt
flexible and sincere attitudes to push forward the next round of
talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue as soon as possible,
Zhang said.
She said solving the nuclear issue through peaceful dialogue is
in the interests of all parties concerned.
Turning to the Sino-US ties, the spokeswoman said solving the
Taiwan question is the key to the steady development of bilateral
relations.?
Zhang said US Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed the
Taiwan question during his recent visit to China.
She said China hopes the United States will adhere to the
one-China principle and the three communiqués between the
two countries.
China is calling the United States not to send any wrong signals
to Taiwan separatists.?
Also at yesterday's briefing, the spokeswoman announced that
Meles Zenawi, prime minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of
Ethiopia, will pay an official visit to China from October 31 at
the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
(Sources including China Daily, CRI.com, and Xinhua News
Agency, October 29, 2004)