The Foreign Ministry yesterday asked the US to return Chinese terrorist suspects imprisoned at the Guantanamo Bay internment camp.

 

"China has taken notice of the concerns of the international community over the secret prisons of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the US," ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular press conference.

 

By announcing the transfer of 14 key terror suspects from secret CIA custody to the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay on Cuba, US President George W. Bush acknowledged Wednesday the existence of these secret prisons for the first time.

 

"China maintains its position of fighting strongly against terrorism," Qin said, noting that anti-terrorism practices should strictly adhere to the spirit of the UN Charter and the principles of international relations.

 

When asked to confirm the existence of Chinese suspects in other CIA facilities, Qin said China has still not received this information.

 

Turning to the Korean nuclear issue, Qin said China and the US have agreed to continue pushing for the early resumption of the six-party talks.

 

"China still considers the six-party talks an effective mechanism for resolving the issue," said Qin, adding that China will keep in close contact with other parties and strive for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

 

He said Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei and other senior officials met with visiting US assistant secretary of state, Christopher Hill, who arrived in Beijing Tuesday afternoon.

 

Qin noted that China insists on achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through peaceful dialogue and consultation and does not support sanctions that may have a negative effect.

 

Qin urged all related parties to create favorable conditions for early resumption of the talks.

 

"China hopes all related parties will keep restrained and calm and take a constructive attitude in this difficult situation," he said.

 

The six-party talks, involving China, the US, Russia, Japan, South and North Korea, have been stalled since the last round in Beijing last November.

 

The last round of talks ended with a Chairman's Statement, in which the parties concerned agreed to resume the talks as soon as possible.

 

In addition, Qin confirmed that the Chinese government has provided a certain amount of humanitarian assistance for flood-stricken North Korea, including grain, food, diesel oil and medicine for disaster relief.

 

According to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the flood has left hundreds of people dead or missing in its wake with thousands of houses and buildings partially or totally destroyed.

 

Referring to the Iranian nuclear issue, Qin said that China holds the position of peacefully defusing the tension through negotiation and dialogue.

 

"China has never changed such a policy," he noted.

 

Commenting on recent foreign media reports that some Chinese genetically-modified (GM) rice has been sold to the EU, Qin said that no commercialized production of GM rice has been approved so far in China.

 

He emphasized that China adopts a scientific approach to GM rice experiments and supervises its legal production.

 

In another development, Qin said China hopes Margaret Chan will successfully attain the senior position in the World Health Organization (WHO).

 

Qin highlighted Chan's excellent professional background, her wealth of practical experience and her familiarity with the WHO's operating rules, adding that her remarkable achievements during her work at the UN's health agency have won high praise from many countries.

 

He pointed out that the Chinese government attaches great importance to Chan's running for director-general of the WHO. Both the Foreign Ministry and the Health Ministry as well as China's embassies and consulates abroad have supported her bid for the job.

 

"We believe Chan is an excellent and competent leader in international health," said Qin.

 

There are a total of 13 candidates in the running. Margaret Chan of Hong Kong has served as the WHO's assistant director-general for communicable diseases for three years. Before starting her work at the WHO in 2003, Chan was the director for health in Hong Kong.

 

The election of the WHO director-general will be held in Geneva in November. The winner will replace former WHO head Lee Jong-wook of South Korea, who died suddenly in May.

 

Turning to Lebanon, Qin said Chinese engineering troops will continue their duty with the UN peace-keeping forces in the Middle-Eastern nation.

 

Under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, the UN forces will be expanded to 15,000 troops to monitor a cease-fire between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah organization.

 

Qin said since Resolution 1701 was passed, Lebanon-Israel relations have relaxed to some extent but much uncertainty still challenges the current cease-fire.

 

"The key issue at present is to strengthen the UN forces and deploy forces as soon as possible," he noted.

 

Qin said sending more troops to join the UN forces is still under consideration by relevant Chinese departments.

 

Also at yesterday's briefing, Qin said China will send a government delegation led by Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to attend the 14th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

 

The meeting will be held in Havana, Cuba from September 15 to 16.

 

Established in 1961, the NAM groups 116 countries. China became an observer to NAM in 1992.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 8, 2006)