The meeting of prime ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members is significant for the agreement reached on anti-terrorism, trade and economic cooperation as well as for the further development of the SCO, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan in Beijing Tuesday.

Speaking at a regular press conference, Kong said the SCO had stepped into well-rounded development after its initial two-year development stage.

The prime ministers of the SCO signed six documents here Tuesday morning, covering multilateral economic and trade cooperation among SCO members, the SCO budget for the year 2004, rules and regulations on salary guarantee and allowances for staff members of the SCO permanent body, local anti-terrorism institutions and personnel arrangement, technical initiation of the SCO permanent body, and a joint communique of the consultation.

The documents indicated that the SCO aimed to step up planning and construction, which is indispensable and important for a regional organization, and made substantial efforts to boost the regional economic cooperation, Kong said.

Kong said the SCO was primarily established to crack down on the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, but the member countries unanimously considered it necessary to conduct further cooperation on security, economy, law-enforcement and transportation following the SCO's two-year primary development.

The expansion of functions and cooperation among the SCO member countries showed its unprecedented vigor and bright prospect, said the spokesman.

Kong said a legal document about the SCO's external relations had been prepared since November 2002 when a tentative arrangement was passed. The SCO was willing to conduct various exchanges and cooperation with other countries and regions.

Since it is located in an area where terrorism runs rampant, the SCO has focused on fighting terrorism since the very beginning. The SCO stands ready to conduct anti-terrorism cooperation with other countries and international organizations, Kong said.

In fact, since the beginning of this year, the SCO has already had exchanges with the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the United Nations, according to Kong.

Kong said the SCO is committed to further strengthening anti-terrorism exchanges and cooperation with other countries and international organizations so as to safeguard regional and global peace and stability.

He also pointed out that the SCO held a positive attitude toward external exchanges. However, he said the issue of expanding its membership requires further consultations among the SCO members and the adoption of certain principles.
 
According to the spokesman, China yesterday expressed "strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition" to arbitrary sanctions imposed by the United States on China North Industries Corporation (CNORINCO) and related sectors.

Kong said the Chinese government has always opposed the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

China has introduced export regulations and worked with countries such as the United States to control the movement of such weapons, he said.

"We would like to maintain such cooperation on the basis of mutual understanding and trust," Kong stressed.

He said the US government had provided no proof or explanation for the sanctions, which affect not only individual companies but the development and production of all missiles, aircraft, spacecraft, electronics and warplanes in China.

The sanctions have made China doubt the sincerity of the US' cooperation with China to limit weapons proliferation and to suspect its motives, Kong said.

"We demand the US side corrects its wrongdoings and lift the sanctions," he said.

Also at yesterday's press conference, the spokesman stressed China has worked hard to deliver the right of education to its people since adopting reform and opening-up policies 20 years ago.

Kong made the remarks in response to criticism by Katarina Tomasevski, special rapporteur on the right to education of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, who has just concluded a visit in China, 

During talks with the rapporteur, Chinese education officials and experts explained how much China spends on education, saying it accounts for 3.41 percent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP).

Kong said Tomasevski did not use this correct data, instead announcing that China spends only 2 percent of its GDP on education.

"We hope the rapporteur utilizes right data and introduces the reform and development of China's education with an objective and fair attitude," Kong said, adding that China would study Tomasevski's suggestions regarding China's education system.

In response to a journalist's question about the recent criticism of the US side on China's human rights status, the spokesman said that the differences existing between China and the United States on the human rights issue should be narrowed through peaceful dialogue.

Kong said the Chinese government always attaches great importance to and makes great efforts for the promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedom in China, and also endeavors to advance the socialist democratic and legal development in the country. At present, China has made some achievements that have been recognized by the international community.

According to Kong, there are some differences between China and the United States on the issue of human rights, but the Chinese side held that such differences can best be narrowed through peaceful dialogue.

Upon the specific cases mentioned by the US side, Kong said China is a country ruled by law, and such cases have been treated in line with the specific laws and fact.
 
Turning to the DPRK nuclear standoff, the spokesman said China hopes all parties concerned will make sincere efforts for the early holding of the next round of six-party talks.

Kong said that after the Beijing six-party talks, all parties concerned have made clear their stances on the Korean nuclear issue. He held that all parties still need some time to further study the issue.

Kong said the Chinese side will as usual make great efforts to advance the six-party talks, but the joint efforts of other parties are also needed.

In another development, the spokesman announced Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will attend ASEAN meetings to be held in Bali, Indonesia, on Oct. 7-8.

At the invitation of Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Wen will attend the Seventh Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) (10+3), the Summit of ASEAN plus China (10+1) and the Fifth Summit of Chinese, Japanese and ROK leaders.

During the meetings, Wen will also attend and address the First ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, Kong said
 
(Sources including Xinhua News Agency and China Daily, September 24, 2003)