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China Tuesday rejected reports that its troops were building up on its border with Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The army's movement was part of a longstanding plan to unify border controls nationwide, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said.
"Chinese troops have not massed on the Sino-DPRK border," he said at a regular press conference yesterday.
Overseas media had reported that China had stationed 150,000 troops on the Sino-DPRK border since last month to deter an escalation of the nuclear standoff on the Korean Peninsula.
Kong said the People's Liberation Army (PLA) had taken over guard duties along the border with the DPRK from the armed police. He said it had been decided years ago to turn over the job to the PLA's border guard unit to bring it into line with other parts of China's land border.
He said the PLA was also taking over guard duties from the armed police along the border between Myanmar and southwest China's Yunnan Province.
The changes were "based on requirements of the law of the People's Republic of China to unify the form and streamline the system of national land border administration," he said. "It is a normal adjustment that has been carried out after many years of preparation by the relevant parties."
The situation in the DPRK has become increasingly sensitive since last October, when US officials said Pyongyang had admitted running a covert atomic arms program.
China hosted six-party talks last month to try to defuse the nuclear stand-off.
China, the DPRK, the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan agreed on some issues. They maintained there should be a nuclear weapons-free Korean Peninsula and that the DPRK's security and other concerns should also be addressed.
Kong then turned to another report that claimed Pakistan is home to a terrorists' training camp which assists East Turkistan terrorist organizations. He said the Pakistani government has done much to fight religious extremists and terrorism in recent years and has also taken an active part in international counter-terrorism.
"China has received lots of help and assistance from Pakistan in fighting the 'three forces' (terrorism, separatism and extremism) to safeguard territory and sovereignty," Kong said. "China is satisfied with that and will continue its cooperation with Pakistan."
According to the spokesman, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will visit the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and the United States from Sept. 18 to 23.
Li had been invited by Knowlson Gift, Foreign Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Keith Knight, Foreign Minister of Jamaica and US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Kong said.
In terms of Li's upcoming visit to the United States, the spokesman said it is aimed at strengthening mutual understanding and trust, and promoting smooth and sound cooperation.
Kong said that during the visit from Sept. 21 to 23, Li would exchange views with US Secretary of State Colin Powell on bilateral ties and international and regional issues. Li will also talk with US leaders and peoples from all walks of life.
Asked to comment on a military hotline between the United States and Taiwan, Kong expressed his belief that Li would reiterate China's stand on Taiwan.
China firmly opposed any military contacts between the United States and Taiwan, and demanded the US government strictly abide by the three joint communiques signed by the two countries, the "one-China" policy and its own promise to oppose the "independence" of Taiwan.
This would promote China-US relations in a healthy and stable way based on mutual respect, Kong said.
From Sept. 24, Li would head a Chinese delegation to the 58th Session of the UN General Assembly, the spokesman announced at the press conference.
Li would deliver a speech during the general debate, expounding the Chinese government's views and propositions on key international and regional issues.
He would also attend multilateral and bilateral activities during the session, Kong said.
The 58th Session of the UN General Assembly is the first of its kind since the Iraq war and would attract much attention from the international community, Kong said.
He said China was willing, along with the international community, to push forward multilateral cooperation to promote the role of the United Nations.
The spokesman also announced Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has accepted an invitation to attend the second annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia, which is set to open in November this year in Boao, south China's Hainan Province.
(Sources including China Daily and Xinhua News Agency, September 17, 2003)
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