Zhang then said China welcomed the US decision to cooperate on its nuclear plant projects but the purchase will depend on the actual needs of the Chinese enterprises.

Nils Diaz, chairman of US Nuclear Regulatory Commission reportedly said the commission will soon vote on the export of AP-1000 reactors to China. Diaz suggested that the US lift restrictions on the export of these reactors and he is optimistic about the prospect of nuclear technology cooperation between the US and China.

In September, China launched an international bid for two new nuclear plants to be built in Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces.

 Zhang confirmed that China and Japan will hold talks next Monday in Beijing on the dispute over the East China Sea.

Cui Tiankai, director-general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian Affairs Department, will represent China, with Mitoji Yabunaka, head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asia and Oceania Affairs Bureau, representing Japan. The parties will exchange opinions on questions concerning territorial delimitation and exploration for natural resources in the East China Sea.

In order to safeguard and promote friendship with Japan, China proposed the consultations be held. China hopes to arrive at an appropriate settlement through peaceful dialogue, Zhang added.

Referring to the visit by 79 lawmakers from Japan's ruling and opposition parties, including Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe, to the Yasukuni Shrine on Tuesday, Zhang urged Japanese leaders to be considerate of Sino-Japan relations and refrain from sending any signals or partaking in any acts that will hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said on Monday that he would continue to make pilgrimages to the Yasukuni Shrine. The shrine, located in Tokyo, honors Japan's war dead, including World War II Class-A war criminals.

Zhang Qiyue said that having a correct understanding of history is crucial to the political foundation of Sino-Japanese relations, and will have an impact on the smooth development of relations.

Turning back to the issue of border delimitation, Zhang commented that the new agreement between China and Russia serves as a successful example for settling border disputes.

China and Russia signed the Supplementary Agreement on the Eastern Section of China-Russia Boundary Line in Beijing on October 14. Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the two countries had completed delimitation of their 4,300-km-long boarder.

While describing the agreement as "balanced and reasonable" and a "political win-win" solution, Zhang said it was reached on the basis of equal and friendly consultation and is of "great significance."

The agreement lays a legal foundation for China and Russia to advance relations and offers a reliable guarantee for friendship and neighborly cooperation, Zhang said.

"It is not only a great benefit to the two peoples, but also an important contribution to peace and stability in the region and the world at large," she said.

The delimitation agreement and other border-related agreements will create favorable conditions for cooperation in environmental protection, utilization of natural resources, shipping, trade and security and stability in the border areas, Zhang said.

China and Russia signed two border agreements in 1991 and 1994, delimiting the eastern and western sections of the boundary, leaving only two parts of land in the eastern section to be resolved.

Negotiations between China and Russia on border delimitation lasted more than 40 years. The pace accelerated after the two countries signed a treaty of friendship and cooperation in 2001.

Turning to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Zhang said that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) has not changed its stance on the six-party talks and still wants to resolve the issue through dialogue.

Chinese leaders have met and held talks with the visiting North Korean delegation led by top legislator Kim Yong Nam. Kim arrived in Beijing Monday for an official goodwill visit.

Kim has exchanged views with Chinese leaders on the East Asia situation and said North Korea considers the six-party talks a good way to solve the nuclear issue, according to the Zhang.
 
She said that all parties involved have agreed that the six-party talks are the best way to solve the issue and China has made unremitting efforts to promote them. Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei and Ning Fukui, China's ambassador on Korean affairs, recently met with foreign affairs officials from South Korea, the US, Russia and Japan to discuss the situation.

All parties have agreed that they should work to hold the next round of talks as soon as possible, said Zhang.

The spokeswoman said that North Korea is a good neighbor of China, and China will, insofar as it is able, provide it with aid to help it overcome its practical difficulties.

(CRI, Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2004)