Chinese Minister of Commerce Lu Fuyuan said in Beijing Thursday that China will maintain the value of its currency in line with the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and China's national economy.

He made the remarks at a press conference following the closing of the 5th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Economic Ministers' Meeting (EMM) in Dalian, a seaside city in northeast China's Liaoning Province.

"China's major task at present is to maintain stable economic growth. The current policy of maintaining the value of the currency does not rule out future adjustments or changes," he said.

He also stressed that currency policy adjustment should be based on the domestic situation of a nation. No country in the world makes currency adjustment decisions based on the international situation alone, without analyzing its domestic situation.

(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2003)