China Tuesday asked the United States not to send the "wrong signal" to terrorist forces operating in western China in its handling of Chinese detainees at the US base at the Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan made the remarks when asked to comment on a report that the United States will not send those suspects back to China and was striving to find destination for them elsewhere.

The spokesman asked the United States to handle the issue according to international rules and with a view toward international anti-terrorism cooperation and bilateral ties.

The terrorists, who call themselves "East Turkistan," are part of the international terrorist forces and pose a vital threat to people's life and property safety worldwide, including in China and the United States as well, Kong said.

Listed as a terrorist group by the UN Security Council, the "East Turkistan" force has staged more than 260 attacks inside western China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in which 162 people of different nationalities have been killed and more than 440 wounded.

The group is colluding with al-Qaeda, Taliban remnants, Chechen terrorist groups and other international terrorist organizations, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security said.

The United States has detained about 700 suspects of al-Qaeda and Taliban remnants from over 40 countries worldwide.

Most of them were caught in the US-led war in Afghanistan. Some of them had been handed over to their homeland governments.

In another development, Kong said the Chinese government will offer another 5 million yuan (US$610,000) worth of humanitarian aid to the troubled Darfur region of Sudan.

Kong said that China's Special Envoy and Assistant Foreign Minister Lu Guozeng promised the Sudanese government the aid during his recent two-day visit to Sudan.

During the visit, Lu met with Sudanese President Omar Hassan Ahmed El-Bashir, delivered a letter from Chinese President Hu Jintao and held talks with Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman Ismail.

Lu conveyed the Chinese government's high attention to the Darfur situation, appreciating the efforts made by the Sudanese government, African Union and League of Arab States in solving the issue.

China hopes the Sudanese government will spare no efforts in continuously implementing relevant UN Security Council resolutions and easing the situation at an early date, Lu said.

The Sudanese side appreciated China's efforts in settling the Darfur problem and promised to try its best, with the joint efforts from the United Nations and the African Union, to settle the question at an early date.

Located in western Sudan, Darfur is considered the site of the worst humanitarian crisis by the United Nations.

The region has witnessed an 18-month conflict with over 10,000 people killed and 1 million people displaced.

The UN Security Council passed a resolution on July 30, giving the Sudanese government 30 days to disarm the local armed forces or face international sanctions.

In response to questions on the Venezuela referendum, the spokesman said China respects the Venezuelan people's efforts in choosing a national destiny within the framework of their constitution and is glad for the smooth operation of the referendum.

Venezuela's National Election Council released the referendum results Monday morning, which showed that President Hugo Chavez had survived the referendum to recall him, with 58.25 percent of the electorate voting for him to remain in office and 41.74 percent voting against.

Kong said China believes that under the leadership of President Chavez, the Venezuelan people will continue to make new achievements in their efforts of maintaining national stability and economic development.

China and Venezuela are friends and China has always attached great importance to the relations with Venezuela, Kong said. "China is willing to join with Venezuela to push forward the bilateral friendly and cooperative relations."

The spokesman also announced that Jean Ping, Gabonese minister of state and minister of foreign affairs, cooperation and francophone, will visit China from Aug. 22 to 27 at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

Ping is also president of the 59th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. During the visit, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan will meet with him respectively and Li will hold talks with him.

The two sides will exchange views on the work of the 59th Session of the UN General Assembly and regional and international issues of common interest, Kong said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2004)