China has been going in for various substantial efforts to rescue the two engineers, who were kidnapped in Pakistan, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhang Qiyue told a regular press conference in Beijing Tuesday.

The Chinese leaders and government are very concerned about the kidnapping, Zhang said. The Foreign Ministry has lodged a presentation with the Pakistan side, urging them to act immediately to rescue the hostages and trying all means to secure their safety.

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing already telephoned his Pakistani counterpart, requiring them to take all necessary measures to beef up the protection of other Chinese expatriates there, Zhang added.

China has started an emergency scheme and would keep in touch with the Pakistan 24 hours a day.

Zhang acknowledged that the Pakistan side too attached great importance to the crisis and responded to China's requests.

Pakistani leaders and relevant departments referred to the two engineers as "good brothers of the Pakistan people" and also hoped to resolve the crisis as early as possible, Zhang noted.

Gunmen kidnapped the two engineers, Wang Ende and Wang Peng, Saturday near Jandala in Pakistan's South Waziristan Tribal Agencybordering Afghanistan. The engineers had been working on a water dam and a canal in the region for the China National Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Group Corporation.

In response to the question on the Korean Nuclear Talks, Zhang Qiyue said that Chinese ambassador on the Korean Peninsula affairs Ning Fukui will pay visits to the related countries for discussions on the fourth round of six-party nuclear talks, which failed to happen before the end of September as scheduled by the six parties during their third-round meeting in June.

"China still hopes the fourth round of six-party talks could beheld as early as possible," Zhang said.

Ning's visits are "a big step" toward resolving the DPRK nuclear issue through dialogue, said Zhang, adding China "has been keeping close contact with all relevant parties and done a great deal of persuasion and promotion work.

"All relevant parties have reached consensus, fixed the goal of realizing a nuclear weapons-free peninsula and agreed to solve all concerned problems through the mechanism of six-party talks," she said.

She said all the parties "should rely on dialogues to settle the problems, in the spirit of mutual respect and equal consultation, since only through dialogues and negotiations can the six parties narrow the gap, enlarge consensus and establish mutual trust." 

When commenting on official reaction by the United States to Taiwan leader Chen Shuibian's "national day" speeches, Zhang Qiyue said: "The United States should observe the one-China policy which has been reiterated by the US leaders."

She also noted that the US side should honor its commitment to not support Taiwan independence, stop arms sales to the island and cut official contacts and military ties with Taiwan to avoid sending the "wrong signal" to the Taiwan authorities. She called on the United States to honor its commitment to the one-China policy and abide by the two countries' three joint communiques.

"Only by doing so can peace and stability across the Straits and the smooth development of Sino-US relations be maintained," Zhang added.
 
On another international issue, Zhang Qiyue said Afghanistan will finally gain its "everlasting peace and stability" with the common efforts the Afghan people when asked to comment on the ongoing presidential election in Afghanistan.

"We noticed that the election, a key link in Afghanistan's peace process, has gone smoothly," said Zhang. "We hope and believe that the everlasting peace and stability in Afghanistan will finally be achieved with the Afghan people's efforts."

Also at Tuesday's news briefing, China expects Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit to bring more vitality to Sino-Russian relations, Zhang Qiyue said.

Putin will pay a state visit to China from Oct. 14 to 16 – his first visit to China in his second presidential term. During his visit, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Putin will exchange views on issues of common concern and sign a joint communique and a series of important documents, said Zhang.

Meanwhile, Putin's visit is a key part of the celebration of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between China and Russia. During his visit, he and Hu will attend a series of commemorative activities, Zhang added.

The visit will be very meaningful to the bilateral relations and China expects it to boost the development of the strategic partnership between the two countries, she noted.

(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2004)