The Foreign Ministry said yesterday that China and Australia are keen to cooperate with each other in the peaceful use of nuclear energy on the basis of equality and reciprocity.

 

Sino-Australian cooperation is in the interests of both sides and conducive to furthering friendly and cooperative bilateral relations, the ministry's spokesman Qin Gang said at yesterday's regular press briefing.

 

In response to a question on the reported Sino-Australian negotiations on uranium trade that concluded on Monday, Qin said both sides had reiterated that they will support international efforts for nuclear non-proliferation.

 

The two sides will cooperate in the peaceful use of nuclear energy in order to fulfill their international obligations, he said.

 

As to whether the two sides will sign a uranium trade agreement, Qin said he had not received any information yet.

 

Turning to the Iran nuclear issue, Qin said Russia's compromise proposal is still a "helpful attempt" to solve the current standoff.

 

Iran resumed talks with Russia on Monday in Moscow over the proposals, one day after an Iranian diplomat said it had lost interest in the Russian plan.

 

Last December, Moscow offered to enrich uranium for Iranian power plants on Russian soil, saying that the proposal would secure Iran's legal nuclear rights while guaranteeing the peaceful use of the technology.

 

However, talks between Russia and Iran have so far not produced any breakthroughs.

 

"We support negotiations between Russia and Iran and hope they can still make progress," Qin said.

 

China and Russia rejected proposals on Monday from the US, the UK and France for a UN Security Council statement demanding that Iran clear up suspicions about its nuclear program. The five governments make up the council's permanent members with veto powers.

 

On the six-party Korean Peninsular nuclear issue talks, Qin said South Korea's new chief negotiator, Chun Young-woo, visited Beijing from March 9 to 11 and met with his Chinese counterpart Wu Dawei.

 

Both agreed that China and South Korea should continue close contact and cooperation and make efforts to implement the previously negotiated joint statement, realize the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula thereby safeguarding peace in Northeast Asia.

 

Chun was appointed as the chief negotiator to the six-party talks last month, replacing Song Min-soon who was promoted in January to the post of chief secretary to the president for unification, foreign and security policy.?

 

In another development, a US Pacific Command delegation is expected to visit China this week as part of an agreement last year between US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan.

 

Qin said the military exchange visit follows a Sino-US commitment reached in October to strengthen mutual understanding in the military field.

 

"The plan was rich in content, covering various areas," he said, adding that he anticipates further regular exchanges involving military leaders and representatives of military schools.

 

Moving on to China-Japan relations, Qin called on Japan to properly settle major issues relating to Taiwan and its history, and work with China to promote the development of bilateral ties.

 

He said China hopes Japan will abide by the spirit of "using history as a mirror and looking forward to the future" and adhere faithfully to the principles embodies in the three political documents they signed.

 

Recent remarks made by Japan's leaders and information from Tokyo have undermined the development of China-Japan relations.

 

Qin also stressed that China values, and hopes to develop friendly and cooperative relations with all neighboring countries including those in South Asia.

 

He said China will work with its South Asian neighbors to safeguard peace and stability in the region and promote common development.

 

According to the spokesman, Dominican President Nicholas Liverpool will visit China from March 19 to 25, and Brazilian Vice President Jose Alencar will visit from March 19 to 24.

 

During Alencar's visit, Vice Premier Wu Yi will co-chair with him the first session of the China-Brazil High-level Committee on Consultation and Cooperation to be held in Beijing.

 

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily March 15, 2006)