"The upcoming visit is a major event in Sino-US relations," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue at a regular news briefing.

"We believe that through the joint efforts of both sides, the visit will further enhance mutual understanding and trust between the two countries and push ahead the bilateral constructive and cooperative relationship."

Zhang said that during the visit, Jiang will exchange views with Bush and other US officials on Sino-US relations and major international issues of common concern.

Jiang is scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Informal Leaders' Meeting to be held in Los Cabos, Mexico, on October 26 and 27, after winding up his trip to the United States.

Jiang's meeting with Bush will be the third between the two presidents since last October. Following his attendance at the APEC leaders' meeting in Shanghai last October, Bush paid a brief visit to China in February.

Zhang said that both countries have attached great importance to the visit and that preparations are under way.

The spokeswoman yesterday announced that the World Summit on Intellectual Property will be held in Beijing next April.

Co-sponsored by the Chinese Government and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the summit will be the first WIPO leaders' meeting.

Zhang said that the summit will heighten attention paid by the international community to the protection of intellectual property and strengthen cooperation in the field.

Turning to the Iraqi issue, Zhang reiterated that Iraq should implement the related United Nations resolutions comprehensively and strictly.

The urgent thing now is for the UN weapons inspectors to return to Iraq as soon as possible and make an objective judgment, she said.

Zhang added that the Iraqi issue should be resolved politically within the UN framework.

According to Zhang, China and other countries have kept close contact concerning the Iraqi issue both in the UN and at the bilateral level.

Zhang confirmed at yesterday's briefing that a foreigner was killed near the Great Wall.

A British passport was found on the foreigner, according to Zhang, who added that police are still investigating the case.

(China Daily October 11, 2002)