China's economic assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has nothing to do with what the DPRK wants to achieve in the ongoing six-party talks, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue in Beijing Thursday.  

"Such point is very clear," Zhang told a regular press conference.

China has for years provided economic aids to the DPRK within its capacity, she said. "All the assistance is aimed to help the people of DPRK to overcome temporary economic difficulties and recover their economy," she said.

China's policy towards the neighboring countries is to build friendly, peaceful and prosperous neighborhood, she said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2004)