China Tuesday welcomed the suggestion put forward by Pakistan for three-way talks with India and the Kashmiris.

"We welcome and support all efforts that are conducive to the improvement of relations between India and Pakistan and will ease tension in the region," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue.

"This is not only in the fundamental interests of people in India and Pakistan, but also benefits peace, stability and development in South Asia."

Pakistan said on Saturday that it would observe "maximum restraint" in Kashmir to strengthen the ceasefire. It later suggested the three-party talks.

Indian and Pakistani troops frequently exchange fire along the 750 kilometre line of control, which divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

Zhang also briefed the press on the latest round of political consultations between China and the European Union (EU), which were held last Thursday in Beijing.

According to the spokeswoman, the two sides agreed to further enhance and improve the existing political consultation mechanism, expand fields for political dialogue and deepen co-operation.

The two sides also pledged to strengthen co-operation on major international issues, particularly those safeguarding the principles of the United Nations Charter and enhancing the authority and role of the Security Council in maintaining peace and security in the world, said Zhang.

The two sides also exchanged views on issues such as the EU integration and disarmament situation in the Balkans and on the Korean Peninsula, the crackdown on illegal immigration, and China-EU human rights dialogues.

Turning to the Iraqi issue, the spokeswoman said that Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan has sent letters to his counterparts in the United States, Russia, France and Britain, and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, expressing concern over the humanitarian situation in Iraq.

In the letters, Tang expressed China's support for Annan's efforts to break the stalemate and called for further efforts to solve the issue.

Tang's letters followed a visit by Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz to Beijing, during which he informed the Chinese side of the latest developments in his country.

Concerning the purchase of the hull of an aircraft carrier from the Ukraine by a Macao entertainment company, Zhang said that it was for tourism purposes.

"This is a purely commercial act by the company," said Zhang. "It does not have anything to do with the Chinese Government."

(China Daily 12/06/2000)