In reaction to US President George W. Bush's call for closer global cooperation against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), Zhang said China is resolutely opposed to the proliferation of WMDs and the means of transporting them, adding that China has common interests with the US in this regard.

According to the spokeswoman, China, consistently supporting the global non-proliferation action, has adopted concrete measures to reinforce a weapons export control regime, which involves both self-control and cooperation with other countries including the United States.

With an established legal framework on non-proliferation, China is willing to adopt strong and effective measures to implement related laws and regulations, said Zhang.

Zhang also elaborated on China's international non-proliferation cooperation.

According to her, China has consultations and exchanges with the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) and with the Missile and Technology Control Regime (MTCR), whose policies and practices served as references for China in setting up its nuclear control regime, a missile export statute and listing.

China has filed its application to join the NSG and sought to join the MTCR. A Chinese delegation is having work consultations in Paris with MTCR member countries after Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and MTCR president both expressed interest in cooperation.

On a controversial Proliferation Security Initiative designed to intercept suspected shipments in international waters, she said China supports international non-proliferation efforts but believes relevant issues should be resolved under international laws and by political and diplomatic means.

"Any non-proliferation measures should be conducive to regional and global peace, security, and stability," said Zhang.

About Bush's suggestions to enhance the roles of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Zhang said China supports the general goal of non-proliferation, and relevant suggestions are worthy of serious discussions by the international community.

Bush called Wednesday in his speech at the National Defense University for tougher global action to crack down on the emerging black market in nuclear arms.

He called for better regulations by IAEA and said he would renew his appeal for the United Nations Security Council to approve a resolution criminalizing the WMD proliferation and enacting strict export controls.

Turning to the remarks by US Secretary of State Colin Powell that Washington does not see the need for Taiwan to hold any "referendum," Zhang said China has noted several comments the US government has made on the Taiwan question. She said China appreciates Washington's view and hopes that the US will continue to properly deal with the question.

Addressing a hearing at the International Relations Committee of the US House of Representatives, Powell said on Wednesday that Washington does not see the need for Taiwan to hold any "referendum."

"We don't really see a need for these referenda," Powell said. "We made it clear to them ... that we do not want to see these actions lead in any way to a change in the situation."

Zhang said that during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's US trip last year, President Bush made an explicit statement to him that the United States would adhere to the one-China policy, abide by the three Sino-US joint communiqués, oppose Taiwan independence, and oppose any unilateral moves that seek to alter the status quo of Taiwan.

China has also stressed time and again that the Taiwan issue is most important and most sensitive among the Sino-US relations, said the spokeswoman, and China hopes the US side will abide by the three joint communiqués and deal with the problem properly.

In another development, China hopes the European Union (EU) will lift its arms embargo against China at an early date, the spokeswoman said.

"China hopes the EU will proceed from the overall development of China-EU relations" when making a decision on lifting the arms embargo, Zhang said.

EU foreign and security policy chief Javier Solana said on Feb.11 that the discussions on lifting the arms embargo against China within the EU are "on the right track," but he could not tell the "exact date" for the lifting at present.

China appreciates Solana's remarks, Zhang said, adding that China has stated time and again its stance on the issue.

The arms embargo "is an obsolete regulation and by-product of the Cold War," the spokeswoman said.

China hopes all EU member states handle seriously the issue and lift the embargo at an early date, she said.

On Jan. 26, the EU foreign ministers' meeting discussed the issue of lifting the arms ban on China, and the ministers demanded the working groups under the EU Council examine the issue and then report to the ministers.

In response to a question on whether China will send a liaison officer to the United Kingdom as a result of the recent disaster in Morecambe Bay, north England, the spokeswoman said that China is working actively on the mission to send liaison officers to other countries, including the UK.

Sending liaison officers is a practical, effective practice adopted by many countries in order to better their cooperation in fighting international crime, she said. The main task of these officers is to work with the law enforcement in the countries they go to.

Zhang denied any direct link between the decision and the recent 19 cockle gatherers tragedy in Morecambe Bay. Before the accident, she noted, the Chinese government had already made some contacts with the British side in this regard.

It has been learned that China has so far dispatched liaison officers to its embassies in six foreign countries, including the United States and Japan.

Turning to the upcoming six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue, the spokeswoman said the duration of the talks has not been decided yet.

All relevant sides, which are China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan, were still consulting on the length of the second round of the talks, scheduled to open on Feb. 25 in Beijing, according to Zhang.

Relevant consultations on the talks were frequent recently. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi, China's chief negotiator in the previous round of talks, "has just concluded a trip to Japan and will head for DPRK," Zhang said.

"Appropriate arrangements will be made" after further consultation between China and the United States, Russia and the DPRK, said Zhang.

The first round of the six-party talks lasted three days from Aug. 27 and 29, 2003.

Also at yesterday's briefing, the spokeswoman announced that at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, President Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan of the Republic of Suriname will pay a working visit to China starting from Feb. 22.

(Sources including Xinhua News Agency and China Daily, February 13, 2004)