Japanese newspaper, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, reported on Tuesday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) had asked China to arrange a visit for US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Pyongyang in a bid to reach a breakthrough on nuclear and missile issues.

"This report has a lot of imagination, but no truth at all," Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan told a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday.

Kong also expressed opposition to the proposal of the so-called "five-party talks," saying that he doesn't think it's a good idea because "facts have proven that six-party talks are a realistic and effective way to peacefully resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula."

Recently both the DPRK and the US showed signs of a possible resumption of talks.

Kong said, "We hope the DPRK and the US can make contact to enhance mutual trust and understanding."

"We'll welcome and encourage such contact, no matter when and where it takes place," he added.

Kong also announced Vice Premier Wu Yi's weeklong visit to Japan, which began yesterday. Wu is scheduled to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Shoichi Nakagawa, and attend the China Day segment of the Aichi Expo 2005.

Kong declined to specify topics to be discussed during Wu's meetings, but analysts said the issues of Sino-Japanese relations, and the joint development of natural gas fields in the disputed parts of the East China Sea might be touched upon.

Relations between China and Japan have worsened following a series of disputes, including Koizumi's annual visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 Class-A World War II criminals.

Koizumi defied public opinion on Monday by saying that he will continue to make his pilgrimage to the shrine.

"The visit to Yasukuni Shrine is not just a simple question of holding memorial services for the dead, but it concerns how to correctly treat history," said Kong, noting that the hands of the 14 Class-A war criminals were tarnished with the "blood of Chinese and Asian people."

When asked to comment on the annual report released by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, Kong said that the Chinese government protects religious freedom of its citizens according to law.

The report criticized the situation in some developing countries, including China.

Kong urged the commission to stop interfering in the internal affairs of other countries by using religion as a pretext.

Still on diplomatic visits, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Beijing yesterday for a three-day visit. President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao will hold talks with him, who is expected to brief the Chinese leaders on the latest development of the Middle East situation as well as the policies to be taken by Palestine in the future, according to Kong.
 
The two sides will also discuss how to strengthen their mutually beneficial cooperation in various sectors, said Kong.

Leaders will sign some agreements after their talks, including an agreement on economic and technological cooperation, Kong added.

This is Abbas' first visit to China since he succeeded the late Yasser Arafat as president of the Palestinian National Authority following Arafat's death in November last year. Abbas was elected Palestinian president in January.

Moving on to the Taiwan-related proposal made by San Tome and Principe to the 58th World Health Assembly (WHA), Kong said: "A few countries have taken this opportunity to challenge the one-China policy and conduct secessionist activities."

The World Health Organization (WHO) Constitution and Rules of Procedure of the WHA stipulate explicitly that WHO membership is open only to sovereign states, and only sovereign states and their overseas territories can attend the WHA as observers at the invitation of the WHO director-general in some prescribed circumstances.

"Taiwan is neither of these," said Kong.

However, he acknowledged, the central government cares much for the health of Taiwan people. The frequent cross-Straits exchanges in the medical and health fields over the years demonstrate that China can take care of its people.

On May 15, the Ministry of Health and the WHO signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Taiwan's technical exchanges with the WHO, according to which the WHO secretariat can invite medical and public health experts from Taiwan to participate in its programs and activities, send staff or experts to Taiwan to study the health and epidemic situation there or provide medical and public health assistance.

Turning to the bloody riots in Andizhan, Uzbekistan, Kong said that China is paying close attention to the situation.

"China is delighted to see that the situation in Andizhan has been stabilized and social order and people's lives are returning to normal," said Kong.

China firmly opposes terrorism, separatism and extremism in any form and will continue to support efforts taken by Uzbekistan and other countries in the region to safeguard national and regional security and stability, he added.

Speaking on the UN, Kong said the draft resolution circulated by Germany, Japan, Brazil and India in relation to UN Security Council expansion will be "detrimental" to the process of UN reform.

"To take such a move hastily will only intensify contradictions," said Kong. "There is still a very large gap between the positions of many countries and the core content of the draft resolution."

Germany, Japan, Brazil and India, known as the G-4, on Monday circulated a draft resolution, proposing to give the four countries permanent seats in the Security Council along with two African countries.

Kong said China hopes all relevant parties can start from the overall and long-term interests of the UN and its member states, follow the stipulations and spirit of the UN Charter, and carry out extensive and in-depth consultations, so as to push for a consensus.

Kong also reiterated China's stance on the UN Security Council reform, saying that China supports it.

He said that the reform would help enhance the authority and efficiency of the Security Council, and give priority to increasing representation by developing countries.

He also said reforms should involve giving more opportunities to middle and small-sized countries to participate in the decision-making of the UN Security Council and should adhere to the principle of maintaining a balance among regions, taking into account the representation of different cultures and civilizations.

"The Security Council reform is an issue that will affect the future of the UN and the immediate interests of every country. Decisions should be made on the basis of extensive discussions and unanimous agreements," Kong said. 

On China-Vatican relationships, Kong said China hopes to improve ties with the Vatican, but requires its recognition of the one-China policy.

Kong urged the Vatican to break ties with Taiwan, as a precondition for an improvement in relations.

He added that the Vatican should not interfere in China's internal affairs in the name of religion.

(China Daily, Xinhua News Agency, CRI.com May 18, 2005)