Chinese leaders have sent a congratulatory message to new Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and welcomed his commitment to maintaining the country's development and stability, according to today's China Daily.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said a telegram had been sent just days after Pakistani Chief Executive General Musharraf was sworn in as president on June 20.
She told reporters at a regular press conference that China regarded Pakistan as a friendly neighbor.
And China welcomed the statement by the new president that he will devote himself to building Pakistan into a nation set on economic development and increasing investment, and to maintaining the continuity of policies, she said.
When commenting on the US' issuing of a visa to former Taiwan leader Lee Teng-hui, Zhang said China has made solemn representations and protests to US leaders.
Despite having stepped down from power, she said Lee was by no means an ordinary citizen but rather a politician specializing in activities meant to divide China.
"China has made it clear that we have always opposed any form of official contact between the United States and Taiwan,” Zhang said.
She also urged the US side to effectively honour the one-China policy and the commitments in the three Sino-US joint communiques and relevant commitments it has made.
Answering a question on the bombing of Iraq by US and British aircraft on Monday, Zhang said, "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq should be respected." She added that the international community should resolve the Iraq issue properly.
China opposes the military action and the establishment of "no-fly zones" by the United States, which threatens the stability and peace in the Gulf region, she said.
At the invitation of Chairman Li Peng of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress, Najma Heptullah, president of the Inter-Parliamentary Council, will lead a delegation to visit China from July 1-7.
(Xinhua News Agency 06/27/2001)
