Chinese President Jiang Zemin urged the United States and China on Tuesday to find an "adequate solution" to their standoff over a US spy plane and its 24 crew members still remaining in China.

"Given the important roles of our countries, I think we should find an adequate solution to this problem," Jiang told a news conference in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Jiang, on a 12-day Latin American tour, said late Tuesday that he trusts the ability of China and the United States to resolve the issue. But he says China's position is "sufficiently clear."

China has insisted on a US apology for the April 1 collision between the US EP-3 surveillance aircraft and a Chinese jet fighter that crashed into the South China Sea.

Jiang said Chinese officials were busy seeking a resolution to the incident.

US President George W. Bush has expressed regret for the incident and US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said Washington is "sorry" for the loss of life -- using a word that China took as a step forward.

In Beijing, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that the United States has made a right move for the secretary of state to express "sorry" for the missing Chinese pilot, presumed dead, but that is inadequate.

Spokesman Sun Yuxi said the problem has not yet been solved, and the two sides need to conduct further consultations. Sun added that this requires a positive attitude from the US.

"Only if the US side adopts a pragmatic and co-operative approach and takes seriously the Chinese people's request, can this incident be handled properly,'' he said.

Tuesday evening, a fifth meeting between US diplomats and the 24 crew members took place in Hainan upon approval by the Chinese side. The US side has extended their gratitude to the Chinese side for the arrangement of the meeting.

The crew are in good health and in high spirits, Neal Sealock, defence attache with the US Embassy, told reporters after the meeting.

(Agencies 04/11/2001)