Liu said the Chinese police, with the permission of the Kyrgyzstan authorities, would also deal with problems arising from the incident.

The passengers on the Chinese international long-distance bus were shot by armed bandits before the vehicle was set alight in Kyrgyzstan. The bus started from Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, for Kashi in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China.

The precise identities of the casualties are still being verified, Liu said.

He said Kyrgyzstan's foreign minister immediately informed the Chinese government of all matters related to the incident, and extended his condolences to the Chinese victims' families.

China and Kyrgyzstan have maintained close contact since then.

Liu said China always attached much importance to the safety of international long-distance transport and required Kyrgyzstan to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of international transport from China.

US Accusations of China's Human Rights Situation Opposed

When asked to comment on the report on China of the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2002 just released by the US State Department, Liu said the report disregards facts and reprehends China for no reason.

"We express our strong displeasure and resolute opposition to the baseless criticism of China's human rights situation with no regard to the facts,'' he said.

The Chinese government has always devoted itself to the promotion and protection of human rights and basic freedoms, and has scored great achievements in this regard, which is a generally-acknowledged fact, said Liu.

The Chinese government and people of all ethnic groups are building up brighter futures with full confidence, he noted.

Liu said in answering this question he would like to advise the US side to think more about its own problems, to stop intervening in other countries' domestic affairs under the pretext of human rights, as well as to give up its double standards on human rights so as not to continue breaking its faith in front of the whole world.

Economic Aid to DPRK

In response to reports that oil supply to the DPRK from China was temporarily interrupted recently, Liu said that China will continuously do what it can to provide necessary economic aid to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The Chinese government has adopted such a policy for along period and would "continue to do so in the future within its power," Liu said.

Replying to reports that the DPRK fired a missile into the Yellow Sea on Tuesday, Liu said he needed to know more details before commenting. But he reiterated that "actions which escalate the situation on the Korean Peninsula should be avoided."

China has always held that all sides concerned should remain calm and restrained in order to safeguard peace and stability on the peninsula, he said.

Peace Efforts in South Asia Continued

China will continue to promote talks between India and Pakistan and urge a peaceful solution to their disputes, said Liu Jianchao.

Liu said that during Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing's phone conversation with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on March 31, Li expressed China's concern about the no-contact, no-dialogue impasse between India and Pakistan, which were both friendly neighbors of China.

Li said the India-Pakistan problem had a long, complicated history and could only be solved through dialogue. China had long been engaged in promoting peace between the two sides to persuade them to resume talks and avoid a deterioration of the situation.

Liu said Li also briefed Straw of Pakistani Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali's recent China visit, and reiterated China's willingness to work with the international community, including Britain, for peace and stability in South Asia.

Preparation for Cheney's China Visit Still Under Way

Preparation for US Vice-President Richard Cheney's China visit is still under way, Liu said.

He told the press conference that when Hu Jintao visited the United States as Chinese Vice-President last year, he invited Vice-President Cheney to visit China. "The two sides are now having discussions and consultations preparing for Cheney's visit to China," Liu said.

Blair's China Visit Postponed

British Prime Minister Tony Blair's planned China tour will be postponed, spokesman Liu Jianchao said.

The decision was made by the British government after consultation with the Chinese side, Liu told the regular press conference.

China understands such a decision and welcomes Blair to visit China at appropriate time, Liu added.

China "Safe" Despite SARS Epidemic

China is taking active measures to prevent the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) which has been reported in Guangdong, Beijing and Shanxi, and it is safe to live in or visit the country, spokeman Liu Jianchao said.

Only Guangdong, Beijing and Shanxi reported cases of the disease, and both central and local governments and health authorities had worked hard to control the disease, and their efforts were "praised by experts of the World Health Organization," he said.

China's national center for disease prevention and control had drawn up a technical scheme for local health authorities to control the disease, including criteria for the diagnosis of SARS patients. The health department of Guangdong Province had also taken sterilization measures in some public places, Liu said.

Most Guangdong patients had gradually recovered and been discharged from hospital, and cases in Beijing and Shanxi failed to spread, Liu said.

The Ministry of Health had ordered provincial health departments to tighten surveillance and control of contagious respiratory illnesses during the spring, he said.

"As long as proper preventive measures are taken, it is safe to live in or visit China," Liu said.

He expected local authorities to publish new data on the epidemic shortly.

(China.org.cn edited from Xinhua News Agency, April 2, 2003)