The Chinese government has decided to donate US$100,000 to the Philippines for disaster relief work in its central and southern flood-hit areas, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao made the announcement at a regular press conference in Beijing Tuesday.

Liu said the Chinese government is deeply concerned over the disasters in the Philippines, which had caused a large number of casualties.

He added that Chinese President Hu Jintao had sent a message to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, expressing sympathy and condolences to the Philippine people and victims.  

Speaking of the recent influenza outbreak in the United States, the spokesman said that Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing sent a message to US Secretary of State Colin Powell Monday, expressing sympathy over the influenza outbreak.

Liu said that in the message, Li expressed his deep sympathy for the loss of lives in the outbreak, and extended condolences to the families of the victims.

The Chinese foreign minister said that the Chinese people hoped the people of the United States would beat the disease and resume normal life, said Liu.  

Speaking of China's support to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, Liu said that China will try its best to support Afghanistan's reconstruction.

According to Liu, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Lu Xinhua started his visit to Afghanistan on December 20 and held meetings with vice president of Afghanistan's interim government Nimartullah Shaharani and Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah.

Shaharani said Afghanistan valued its relations with China and thanked China for its assistance ever since, hoping China would continue to help boost economic development.

China was concerned about the peace process in Afghanistan, said Liu, and hoped the general election could be held as scheduled after the passage of a new constitution in Afghanistan, which was conducive to peace, stability and development.

Shaharani said Afghanistan would continue to cooperate with China in fighting terrorism.

Commenting on the upcoming 25th anniversary of Sino-US diplomatic relations, Liu said bilateral relations had developed well in the past 25 years.

Liu said that Sino-US relations are now at a pivotal stage since the establishment of diplomatic ties on January 1, 1979.
 
Citing Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's recent visit to the United States, Liu said the relationship was facing both challenges and opportunities and the diversified international situation also added new dimensions.

It is in the interests of the two peoples and the people in the world to strengthen friendly cooperation between China and the United States, and it is also the common aspiration of the two peoples to promote constructive cooperation between the two countries, said Liu.

China and the United States can cooperate in many fields in the future, said Liu, adding that the two sides should handle properly the existing problems and differences on the basis of equal consultation and mutual respect, and take into account each other's concerns so as to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations and to benefit the peoples.

Speaking of the second round of six-party talks, Liu called for flexibility and sincerity in solving the Korean nuclear issue and an early start to the second round of six-party talks.

Liu said the reason that the second round of talks was not held this year was because the parties involved still had some differences in their stances and concerns.

But Liu said the stances of the parties had gradually came closer and the consultations and contacts were effective and positive in general.

He said the parties concerned had made many important and positive efforts in solving the Korean nuclear issue and China hoped the parties could enhance consultation and make active preparations for the next round of talks.

He said China will continue to mediate among the parities and create the necessary conditions for the second round of six-party talks, at which substantial issues could be discussed.

China believes that as long as all parties concerned took a more practical attitude and showed more flexibility and sincerity, the second round of talks could be held soon and progress in solving the Korean nuclear issue could be achieved, he said.
  
Liu also confirmed that on December 19, Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Joseph R. DeTrani, a US State Department special envoy on Korean affairs, in Beijing. The two exchanged views on preparations ahead of the second round of six-party talks. Before the meeting, Fu Ying, department head of the Asian affairs with the Foreign Ministry, had in-depth discussions with DeTrani on the Korean nuclear issue.

In responding to one comment that Libya's recent decision to stop developing weapons of mass destruction should set an example for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the spokesman said China supports a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

(Xinhua News Agency December 24, 2003)