The dissolvement of the Russian government is the country's internal affairs, and China will work closely with Russia to promote the healthy development of bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular news briefing yesterday.

 

"Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov has made positive contribution to promoting China-Russia strategic partnership of cooperation and deepening bilateral pragmatic cooperation during his term," Jiang said.

 

"We are ready to continue concerted efforts with Russia to further step up bilateral cooperation in politics, trade, science and technology, and human culture, so as to promote the long-term, healthy and stable development of bilateral strategic partnership of cooperation," Jiang said.

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin nominated financial intelligence chief Viktor Zubkov as the candidate for new prime minister on Wednesday, hours after he dissolved the government at the request of Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov.

 

Fradkov, 57, was appointed Russian prime minister in 2004.

 

Taiwan issue

 

The US government had reaffirmed its observance of the one-China policy and three Sino-US joint communiques and opposition to Taiwan authorities' proposed referendum on UN membership, said Jiang.

 

"China hopes the US will honor its commitment and work with China to safeguard stability of the Taiwan Straits and the general situation of Sino-US relations," she said.

 

She said the Taiwan issue was related to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the internal affairs of China.

 

Jiang said the Taiwan authorities had recently fully demonstrated they were engaging in the secessionist activities.

 

"Any action challenging the UN charter and Resolution 2758 (to restore the PRC's legal status in the UN in 1971) as well as one-China principle is unpopular and doomed to failure," Jiang said.

 

Iran nuclear issue

 

"China welcomes the working plan reached by Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and hopes Iran will work with IAEA to realize the plan," Jiang said.

 

The realization of the working plan would help the international community to rebuild confidence in Iran's plans for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and promote a peaceful solution to the Iran's nuclear issue, Jiang said.

 

On August 21, Iran and the IAEA agreed on a working plan to clarify outstanding ambiguities over Tehran's nuclear program. The US and other Western countries have accused Iran of trying to develop atomic weapons under a civilian cover, but Iran denies the accusation, saying it just wants to generate electricity.

 

Iranian government special envoy, Minister of the Interior Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi is visiting China from September 13 to 14. Jiang said the special envoy would meet Chinese officials to discuss bilateral ties and issues of common concern.

 

"Negotiation is the best way to solve Iran's nuclear issue, as it conforms to the common interests of the international community," Jiang said.

 

Tie with Japan

 

The Chinese government has always attached great importance to the China-Japan ties, and advanced the development of bilateral friendly cooperation, Jiang said.

 

China-Japan ties are facing "key opportunities for further development" at the current stage, she said.

 

"We would like to work together with Japan to push forward the bilateral ties in a sound and stable way by maintaining the momentum of high-level exchanges, enhancing mutual political trust and deepening substantial cooperation," she said.

 

She said China will solve relevant issues with Japan in accordance with the principle and spirit of the three bilateral political documents.

 

Shinzo Abe, who took office on September 26 last year, offered his resignation on Wednesday, less than a month after he reshuffled the Cabinet following a crushing defeat in parliamentary election.

 

He has been plagued by a series of scandals involving his cabinet ministers, pension recording errors, as well as a crushing defeat in July's upper house election, when his Liberal Democrat Party lost its decades-long dominance of the chamber.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2007)