Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao said that issues affecting Hong Kong were a matter of domestic policy, and that China opposes unsolicited opinions on them from other countries.

He was speaking at Tuesday's regular press conference, in response to a report by the US State Department on human rights that said Hong Kong should have more democracy.

Liu said China has noted the report, but democracy in Hong Kong has shown remarkable development since sovereignty was resumed on July 1, 1997, and will continue to make progress.

"The government aims to serve its people and has made tremendous efforts in the fields of protecting human rights, expanding democracy and enforcing the rule of law," he said.

Liu said the US State Department should have been fully aware of the achievements made in the field of human rights protection.

He urged the US to stop intervening in the domestic affairs of other countries using the excuse of human rights and to "pay more attention to its own human rights situation."

In reply to a question on the Japanese Defense Agency report voicing concern over recent two-digit growth in China's military spending and its quest for an early end to the EU arms embargo, Liu said Japan should view the situation "objectively" and not "unreasonably" connect the two issues.

He said Japan is one-twenty-fifth the size of China in terms of territory and has 10 percent its population, but its military spending is US$41.5 billion while China's is US$25.6 billion.

Liu added that China seeks to lift the EU's ban to end political discrimination and, "Either way, it has nothing to do with Japan and will not undermine Japan's interests. We hope that the country will adopt a correct attitude on the issue."

Asked about the situation in Kyrgyzstan, Liu said China is paying close attention to the turmoil there that has injured over 10 Chinese citizens, three seriously, and resulted in economic losses of US$7 million.

"Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Zhang Yannian went to the hospital to see the injured, and conveyed the concern and cordial regards of the government to them," Liu said.

China has asked Kyrgyzstan to treat the wounded within all its capabilities, he said.

The Foreign Ministry and the embassy in Kyrgyzstan have launched a quick-response mechanism and established an emergency hotline, said Liu, who reminded Chinese citizens not to go to Kyrgyzstan at present unless absolutely necessary.

"China has asked Kyrgyzstan to take effective measures to protect Chinese citizens, property and organizations," he said.

Chinese nationals in Kyrgyzstan would have no problem returning home since regular flights between Kyrgyzstan and China are still in service, he said.

Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing has talked on the phone with the other foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries, Liu said. "All sides are concerned about the current situation in Kyrgyzstan and hope that it will stabilize as soon as possible."

Founded on June 15, 2001, SCO now has six member states: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. 

Turning to the Indonesian earthquake, Liu said that so far there have been no Chinese casualties, including residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, adding that contacts with Indonesian authorities will be maintained to monitor the situation.

He added that President Hu Jintao sent a telegram to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to express his condolences, and Li sent a letter of condolence to the Indonesian foreign minister.

"We are deeply sympathetic toward the Indonesian people affected by the disaster and would like to express our sincere condolences to them," said Liu. US$500,000 in cash has so far been pledged by the government and US$300,000 allocated by the Red Cross Society of China, with both examining further aid.

Returning to the EU arms embargo, Liu said China appreciates France and Germany's stance for an early end to it.

In response to a question about Jacques Chirac's visit to Japan, he said the French president told Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Sunday that the decision to lift the ban is political and that France will not revoke it.

"We hope the EU will proceed from the overall situation of EU-China relationship and lift the ban as soon as possible," Liu said.

The EU, keen to boost trade and diplomatic ties with China, indicated on December 17, 2004 that it would lift the ban, in place since 1989, at end of June.

France has led efforts to secure an early end to the embargo despite opposition from the US and concerns among other EU member states. The US fears China getting access to advanced weapons, especially after its legislature adopted the Anti-Secession Law, which said in formal, legal terms that it would use force if Taiwan declares independence.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told reporters March 23 after an EU summit that Germany backed French efforts to secure an early end of the ban.

Responding to the bird flu outbreak in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) that has caused hundreds of thousands of chickens to be culled, Liu said no cases have been reported in China.

Liu said that since early March, the government has taken emergency measures and asked the three northeastern provinces to prevent avian influenza from entering China through the DPRK.

When asked to comment on the decision adopted by the African Union (AU) Executive Council to demand no less than two permanent seats in the UN reform summit, Liu said UN reform should take into consideration developing countries, especially African countries.

The summit of world leaders for UN reform to take place in September should pay close attention to developing countries, particularly development-related issues for African countries such as poverty, disease and funding shortages, said Liu.

China is in favor of enhancing the UN's role and authority through necessary and reasonable UN reform, said Liu. It should take into account suggestions from all sides and address their concerns. Meanwhile, the AU's position should be valued and taken into consideration.

There is no world peace or development without stability and prosperity in Africa, Liu said. Africa is the continent with the most developing countries, and China hopes they can play a bigger role in every UN organization, including the Security Council.

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily, CRI.com March 30, 2005)