"Such reports are groundless, irresponsible and so much as having ulterior motives and making mischief," Kong told a regular press briefing held in Beijing.

"We sincerely hope that the WHO lifts its warning against travel to Taiwan as soon as possible according to its progress in controlling the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)," he said.

Kong said the mainland has always been very concerned with the health of the people in Taiwan Province and supported their efforts to wipe out the threat of SARS as soon as possible.

Vice Premier Wu Yi comprehensively introduced the efforts of the central government in helping Taiwan fight SARS to the general debate of the 56th World Health Assembly last month.

"The help has included providing medicines and financial support and sharing of experiences and technical knowledge," Kong said.

He added that experts in the mainland, including Zhong Nanshan, director of the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases, who was among the first group of experts to treat SARS patients, have fully shared their experience in fighting SARS at video-seminars with their Taiwan colleagues.

Turning to the nuclear issue in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kong said China hopes dialogue will continue.

"We firmly uphold that the Korean Peninsula is free from nuclear weapons and it should be peaceful and stable," Kong said in response to reports that the DPRK said on Monday that it wanted nuclear weapons to cut conventional forces and divert funds into the economy.

"We hope both sides will not take any action that might escalate the situation under current circumstances," he said.

Noting that the Beijing talks had achieved positive results, Kong said the international community should make a joint effort to continue the process.

"China is open and flexible towards the form of the dialogue," he added.

With respect to the situation in Myanmar, the spokesman said China believes the people of Myanmar are able to handle their own affairs well, maintain stability and enhance economic growth.

Myanmar is a good neighbor of China and the two countries have always maintained friendly ties, Kong said.

"The Chinese side believes that what happened in Myanmar lately is an issue between the Myanmar government and its opposition parties," he said. "We believe the people of Myanmar are able to handle their own affairs well."

Referring to a quelled military coup in Mauritania's capital Nouakchott, Kong said China sincerely hopes that stability will be resumed in the country as soon as possible.

The Mauritanian president has announced on television that the coup attempt had been crushed, and domestic stability was gradually being resumed.

The spokesman said as a friend of Mauritania, China sincerely hoped that the country would resume stability as soon as possible so that its people could enjoy their life and develop their own nation.

Kong also announced at the press conference President Azali Assoumani of the Union of Comoros will visit China from June 18 to 23.

President Azali Assoumani is invited by Chinese President Hu Jintao.

(Sources from China Daily and Xinhua News Agency, June 11, 2003)