China values the role the Group of Eight (G8) has played in
international affairs and would like to maintain dialogue and
exchanges with it, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kong Quan on
Thursday.?
Kong told a regular press conference that China is considering
an invitation to attend the G8 summit, which is to be held in the
UK in July.
"We hold a positive attitude towards dialogue on international
issues with the G8," he said.
The G8 comprises France, Germany, the UK, Italy, the US, Japan,
Canada and Russia. President Hu Jintao
attended the informal South-North dialogue meeting in France in
June 2003.
Commenting on an Indian report that says the US will sell an
anti-ballistic missile system to India, Kong said the nuclear arms
race in South Asia is not in line with the interests of any
country.
He said, "We hope the relevant countries properly handle the
situation and are committed to safeguarding stability, peace and
development in Asia, especially South Asia."
He said China welcomes recent negotiations between India and
Pakistan and hopes to work with them to safeguard stability in that
region.
Commenting on Bill Clinton's planned visit to Taiwan this
weekend and his meeting with Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian, Kong
said as a former US president and an influential politician he
should know China's firm position on the Taiwan issue.
Clinton should abide by the one-China policy and the three joint
communiqués and oppose "Taiwan independence," said Kong.
Turning to the Korean Peninsula nuclear standoff, Kong urged all
concerned parties once again to make efforts to resume six-party
talks.
He said China has been in close contact with the other five
parties. Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing exchanged views on the latest developments with US
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a phone conversation on
Tuesday night.
Chinese Ambassador for Korean Peninsula Affairs Ning Fukui also
met on Tuesday and Wednesday with Russian Ambassador Igor Rogachev,
South Korean Ambassador Kim Ha-joong and Japanese Ambassador
Koreshige Anami.
According to Kong, the Chinese side said again during these
meetings that it hopes all parties stick to the goal of a
nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and strive to safeguard peace and
stability there.
China hopes all parties show sincerity and flexibility to work
positively and constructively for the restart of six-party talks,
he said.
Kong said China and Vanuatu will sign a joint communiqué and
economic and technological agreements during Vanuatuan Prime
Minister Ham Lini's visit.
President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen
Jiabao and other senior officials will meet with Lini during
his stay in Beijing. He arrived on Thursday for an official visit
lasting until March 4.
Kong announced that at the invitation of Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing, Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Nikolaevich Martynov
will visit from March 2 to 5; and Minister of Communications Zhang
Chunxian will attend the handover ceremony of the presidency of
Uruguay as China's special envoy in Montevideo on March 1.
(Xinhua News Agency, CRI.com February 25, 2005)