China hopes the United States will repatriate suspected Chinese terrorists being held at Guantanamo Bay as soon as possible, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

Spokesman Qin Gang made the remark when asked by a journalist to comment on the United States holding a hearing on releasing some suspected Uygur Chinese terrorists held in Guantanamo Bay.

He said those suspected Chinese terrorists have been included in the United Nations Security Council's list of members of relevant terrorist organizations, such as the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), and should be handed over to China to deal with in accordance with the law.

"China has repeatedly demanded the United States to repatriate the Chinese terrorists being held in Guantanamo Bay. We hope the U.S. side can look seriously at China's position and repatriate the above-mentioned people as soon as possible."

Qin added terrorism is a common threat to the whole world and it's the responsibility of all countries to strike out terrorism. "Double standards must not be adopted in this regard."

China supports DPRK, US to maintain contact on nuclear issue

China supported the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States keeping contact and deemed the U.S. chief nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill's DPRK visit as beneficial, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

"The nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula has achieved important progress through the concerted efforts by all the parties involved, but it also arrives at a crucial point to make further developments," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters.

Chinese top nuclear negotiator and Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei met Hill on Oct. 4 in Beijing and listened to a briefing of his three-day visit to the DPRK. Hill had substantive and lengthy talks with DPRK officials.

Qin said it was in accord with the interests of all the parties to push forward the progress of the talks, realize the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and maintain the peace and stability of the Northeast Asian region.

"China will continue to keep close communication and coordination with the other parties, so as to fulfill the second-phase actions in a comprehensive and balanced way at an early date."

China welcomes Japanese PM's visit

China on Tuesday welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso to visit China at a time of convenience of both sides.

"This would help keep the high level visits between China and Japan, and advance the development of the strategic and mutually beneficial relationship between the two nations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular press conference.

China and Japan were important neighbors for each other. "We value the relations with Japan," he said.

China was ready to keep contacts with Japan on the specific schedule of Aso's China visit, he noted.

Leaders and delegates from 45 Asian and European countries and organizations will gather in Beijing for the Seventh Summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) from Oct. 24 to 25.

"Prime Minister Aso is welcomed to attend the summit," Qin said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 7, 2008)