The nuclear standoff on the Korean Peninsula will top the agenda
when US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pays her first visit to
Beijing since taking her post in January.
The Taiwan issue is also likely to be discussed during her
visit from March 20 to 21.
A Foreign Ministry spokesperson stressed the need for the US to
safeguard healthy development of bilateral ties through its deeds
as well as words.
Kong Quan said at Thursday's regular press conference that the
government would be open to anything Rice wants to discuss, adding
that China hopes the two countries can increase mutual
understanding, expand consensus and reduce disputes.
Kong said, "Now the six-party talks are facing difficulties,
efforts from all those concerned are needed in order to resume
negotiations."
Currently, China's special envoy on the issue, Ning Fukui, is in
Washington discussing what can be done to launch another round of
talks at an early date.
He is scheduled to meet Michael Green, the US National Security
Council's senior director for Asia, Joseph R. DeTrani, US State
Department special envoy for Korean affairs, and Christopher Hill,
the top US nuclear negotiator, said Kong.
In response to criticisms by the US White House and State
Department of China's proposed Anti-Secession Law, Kong urged US
officials not to make "irresponsible remarks" about China's
legislative decisions.
The US said on Tuesday that the law was "unhelpful" for
cross-Straits relations and urged Beijing to reconsider.
Kong said, "We call on the US to abide by the principles of
international relations, understand and support China's law-making
actions and not do anything that will foster Taiwan separatist
activities and harm China-US relations."
Kong also voiced concerns over plans by Vietnam and the
Philippines to conduct scientific research in the disputed South
China Sea.
"We hope that the concerned parties carry out research
cooperation in accordance with the principles of the Declaration on
the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," he said.
The declaration, signed in 2003 between China and ASEAN members,
calls for improving conditions for a peaceful and durable solution
to territorial disputes and to prevent their escalation.
Vietnamese and Philippine scientists announced recently that
they plan to survey 23 locations in the area for research.
With an international anti-terrorism conference underway in
Madrid, Spain, Kong said China believes the summit is of great
significance, expressing hope that the international community will
work together to eliminate terrorism.
Kong announced that Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing will pay an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Luxemburg, Italy, Albania, and the EU headquarters in Brussels,
Belgium.
Whilst in Italy, Li will co-preside the first Joint Meeting of
the China-Italy Governmental Committee with the Italian foreign
minister.
During his visit to Brussels, Li will also meet with Belgian
leaders.
Kong also said that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will
visit from March 17 to 19 at the invitation of President Hu
Jintao.
(China Daily, CRI.com, Xinhua News Agency March 11,
2005)