The Kuomintang Party in Taiwan recently suggested cross-Straits relations be handled according to the "confederation model."

Zhang stressed that "we are willing to exchange extensive views with political figures from various parties and circles in Taiwan within the framework of the one-China policy."

Turning her comments to the US EP-3 spy plane that was recently sent back to the United States after spending months in Hainan Province, Zhang said the two sides are still negotiating US payment.

"When the two countries reached an agreement on the return of the EP-3 plane, both sides decided to have further negotiations on the issue of payment," she said.

On the issue of a "very negative" response by the United States to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), Zhang said signing of the CTBT is conducive to global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

"It is an important step towards a world free of nuclear weapons," Zhang said. "Any attempt to resist the historical trend will be strongly opposed by the international community."

According to Zhang, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan will attend a foreign ministers' meeting between Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (10+3) in addition to the eighth Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Post-Ministerial Conference and a meeting between China and ASEAN (10+1) to be held in Hanoi from July 24-27.

The ARF, whose members include major countries in the Asia-Pacific region, is the most important official forum for multilateral security dialogue in Asia, Zhang said.

"The Chinese side hopes all sides will continue to strengthen their dialogue and co-operation and make a concentrated effort to contribute to the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region," Zhang said.

During the "10+3" meeting, the Chinese side will exchange views with various sides on the future development of co-operation in East Asia, Zhang said.

(China Daily 07/11/2001)