China has lodged representations with the United States on the Dalai Lama's US visit, calling for the US side to keep its promise that it acknowledges Tibet as part of China and does not support the "independence of Tibet," Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing Thursday.

Kong made the remark at a regular press briefing in reply to a reporter's question about the Dalai Lama's visit to the United States from Sept. 4 to 24 and the possibility that he would meet with US President George W. Bush and State Secretary Colin Powell.

Kong said the Dalai Lama is not purely a religious figure, but a political figure in exile, who has engaged in China-separating activities for a long time.

The Chinese side has lodged representation with the US side and request it to keep its promises, the spokesman said.

DPRK highly values China's efforts in six-party talks

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) highly values a great deal of work China had done for the Beijing six-party talks, said Kong.

He said that holding the six-party talks was the DPRK's idea and it believed there were positive results from the talks and hopes to peacefully solve related issues by dialogue.

Kong said the talks show the relevant sides have differences, some of which are very serious, as well as consensus.

But because of the talks, the goal of realizing a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula has been set and the dialogue process to peacefully resolve the issue has been started, said Kong.

He said China hopes and believes that as long as the process can be continued, the related parties, especially the DPRK and the United States, will understand each other better, reduce mistrust and gain more consensus.

Kong said during the talks that the DPRK has made it clear that to have nuclear weapons is not its goal, but rather its goal is to realize a nuclear-free peninsula. China supports its position and believes that its security concerns should be resolved properly.

To guarantee a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and maintain the peace and stability of the peninsula conforms to the interests of all sides, said the spokesman.

On CNTBT, PSI

Turning to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CNTBT), Kong Quan said that China sees great significance in the treaty, especially in promoting the process of nuclear disarmament.

China has signed the treaty, Kong said, disclosing that it has been submitted to the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, for deliberation and final ratification.

China hopes the treaty will come into force as soon as possible, Kong said, adding the NPC would ratify the treaty according to the due legal procedures.

When asked about Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), Kong said, China understands the relevant countries' concerns about the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

However, Kong added, there are quite a number of countries which are still doubtful about the effectiveness and legal validity of the PSI.

It requires prudence under such circumstances, Kong said. China holds that the best way so far to prevent the proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction and jointly safeguard public security is through consultation and dialogue, the spokesman said.

China welcomes Iraqi new government

China welcomes the new Iraqi government and hopes it restore normal order to Iraq, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan, adding that China hopes the new government promote the process of allowing the Iraqi people to exert their sovereignty.

He said China's goal in the Iraq issue is to resume normal order in that country and enable the Iraqi people to exercise sovereignty, and China hopes that in this process Iraq's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity should be safeguarded.

The United Nations is preparing to discuss a new proposal on the reconstruction of Iraq and that China has taken part in this work, he said, adding that the role of the United Nations should be strengthened.

On Monday, the Iraqi Governing Council named a 25-member cabinet, the first following the overthrow of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on April 9.

China hopes Palestine, Israel resume right track

China hopes Palestine and Israel will cooperate with the international community, take practical steps and resume the right track of peacefully resolving the Middle East issue, said Kong Quan.

Kong said that all relevant parties in the international community are working toward realizing a peaceful Middle East and have made some progress previously.

But the present situation in the region as a whole can be called "sailing against the current", and China is very concerned about the escalation of violent activities there, the spokesman said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 5, 2003)