At a regular briefing, spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said that Teng, who entered China holding a Chinese passport, was arrested last May on the charges that she had "pried into and illegally provided state intelligence overseas," and was consequently prosecuted by the Beijing People's Procuratorate in November.

The Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court found Teng guilty and passed down the verdict on Tuesday, according to Zhang.

The 1997 version of China's Criminal Law stipulates that criminals that steal state's classified information for overseas clients and endanger national security can face over 10 years in prison.

Also at the press briefing, the spokeswoman was asked about a recent visit by China's Ambassador to Pakistan, Lu Shulin to Afghanistan. Zhang said it was an inspection tour of the Chinese Embassy residence in Kabul.

Following the question, Zhang went on to reiterate China's stance on the Afghan issue, saying that China is paying close attention to the changing situation in Afghanistan.

As a permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, China has always urged the resolution of the Afghan issue and has supported the UN's political role in the dispute, said Zhang.

China hopes that a resolution will be passed by the UN leading to the early solution of the issue, she added.

(China Daily 12/15/2000)