China on Tuesday expressed its hope that the cooperation program with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) would move forward.

The comment was made by Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang, who was responding to a question on a demand by DRC rebel leader Laurent Nkunda for the DRC government to review contracts with Chinese business.

It has been reported that Nkunda raised this requirement in talks with a UN special envoy on Sunday.

All of China's economic and investment cooperation with the DRC in that country were conducted by companies from both sides in line with the principles of equality, mutual benefit and common development, Qin said.

Besides mining, Chinese companies were also involved in cooperation with the DRC in infrastructure construction and medical and health work. "All of these cooperative efforts are conducive to the DRC's social and economic progress and they benefit local people," Qin noted.

He hoped that the cooperation program, which accorded with the interests of both sides, would move forward.

Meanwhile, Qin said China was deeply concerned with the deteriorating situation in the central region of the DRC. "We hope all concerned parties will solve their disputes in a political way through dialogue, so as to realize peace and stability in the region at an early date," he noted.

(Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2008)