The resolution of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula through the framework of the six-party talks is the only "feasible and correct" option, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said in Washington on Thursday.
"Actually all the parties who attend the Beijing six-party talks and actually the entire international community have expressed the view that the resolution of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula through the six-party talks is the only feasible and correct option," Li told reporters after his working lunch with US Secretary of State Colin Powell.
The Chinese foreign minister said there have emerged "some new complicating factors and new difficulties" concerning the next round of the six-party talks.
"This has required all of us to continue to adopt a more peaceful means to the nuclear issue on the Koran peninsula, through the framework of the six-party talks, because nothing is more precious than peace," he said.
For his part, Powell said he believed the six-party talks framework will work.
"I think that the six-party framework is what we should be concentrating on, and not any other means of dealing with this right now," Powell said.
"I am quite confident that the six-party framework is a framework in which this matter will be dealt with for the foreseeable future because it serves the interests of all parties," Powell said.
The United States said on Wednesday that it was still committed to the six-party process despite that the talks were not taking place this month as scheduled.
"We remain committed to the six-party process. We think that is the way to move forward," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said at a news briefing on Wednesday.
"It makes sense to do it that way, it is the way to do it. It has shown that it is a process that can work," Boucher said.
The United States has said that it would like to see another round of the six-party talks on the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) take place and said it was continuing to work with the other parties to move the six-party process forward and "it is not something we are giving up on."
Three rounds of the six-party talks, hosted by China, have been held.
During the press conference, Li Zhaoxing also stressed that China is firmly opposed to the sales of weapons by any foreign country to Taiwan, which is a part of China.
"The Chinese government and the people attach great importance to the reaffirmations made by the US president, the secretary, and US government on many occasions of the US continued adherence to the one-China policy, the observance of the three Sino-US joint communiques, and the opposition to Taiwan independence," Li said.
"At the same time, I wish to point out that in any country its domestic law should not go above its international commitments," he said.
Li said that "the Chinese government and Chinese people are ready to use our maximum sincerity and make our best efforts to realize a peaceful reunification of the country and find a peaceful solution to the Taiwan question. However, we will never, ever allow anyone to use any means to separate Taiwan, which is the inalienable part of the Chinese territory, from the rest of our great motherland".
He stressed that China is firmly opposed to the sales of weapons by any foreign country to Taiwan, "because we don't think it is in the interest of our peaceful efforts towards the resolution of the Taiwan question. And it does not serve the interests of peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. And eventually it will not serve the interests of those countries who are prepared to sell weapons to Taiwan."
Also at Thursday's press conference, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the United States does not support a movement toward independence on the part of Taiwan and the ultimate settlement of Taiwan issue has to be acceptable to both sides of the Taiwan Straits.
Powell said that he reaffirmed the US one-China policy to the Chinese foreign minister during their talks.
"I once again reaffirmed our one-China policy and the strength of the three communiques and also noted our obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act and reaffirmed what President Bush has said a number of times, that we do not support a movement toward independence on the part of Taiwan," the US official said.
Powell stressed that "there is no support in the United States for an independence movement in Taiwan, because that would be inconsistent with our obligations and our commitment to our one-China policy."
Asked whether the United States is going to ignore the voice and desire of a billion-plus people in the Chinese mainland as US officials often stated that the ultimate settlement of Taiwan issue has to be acceptable to the people in Taiwan, Powell responded with "of course not."
"It has to be acceptable to both sides (of the Taiwan Straits). That's what reconciliation is all about," Powell said, adding that "we strongly support our one-China policy, which has stood the test of time; it has benefited people in Taiwan, benefited people in the mainland, and it's benefited the international community and certainly benefited the United States."
(Xinhua News Agency October 1, 2004)
