A Foreign Ministry spokesperson said at Tuesday's regular press conference in Beijing that the government is highly concerned for Chinese citizens affected by the current nationwide rioting in France.

Liu Jianchao said, according to the latest information, three Chinese have been slightly hurt since the violence started on October 27, with one Chinese person's vehicle being burned and five warehouses owned by Chinese looted.

"The Chinese government and the Chinese embassy in France are very concerned about the current situation of the ethnic Chinese in France," said Liu, who also reminded Chinese living in France to watch out for their own safety and property.

The Chinese embassy has already sent officials to visit those Chinese who suffered economic losses, expressing consolation and telling them to contact the embassy whenever necessary, said Liu.

"We also believe that the French government will adopt effective measures to control the present situation as quickly as possible and guarantee the safety of Chinese, French and people from other countries," said Liu.

The current violence began in Clichy-sous-Bois, northeast of Paris, when two teenagers were accidentally electrocuted while hiding in an electrical sub-station apparently trying to flee a police identity check.

President Jacques Chirac convened an emergency cabinet meeting yesterday, empowering local authorities to impose curfews if necessary to restore public order.

According to French police, 226 towns have been wrecked and 1,173 vehicles were torched overnight from Monday to Tuesday and some 330 people arrested.

Also on Tuesday, Liu announced that Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Commerce Minister Bo Xilai will attend the 17th APEC Ministerial Meeting from November 15 to 16 in Busan, South Korea.

The two ministers will make preparations for the 13th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting which will be attended by President Hu Jintao after he concludes his state visit to the UK, Germany, Spain and South Korea.

APEC, which has 21 members, is the most important forum of economic cooperation in the Asian-Pacific region. Aiming to promote multilateral trade system and eliminate trade barriers within the region, it has become an active force that helps make regional trade and investment more liberal and convenient, promote regional economic and technological cooperation and economic development.

According to Liu, the upcoming ministerial meeting will give priority to regional trade planning, economic and technological cooperation, trade and energy security, bird flu prevention and control, and anti-corruption.

On the fifth round of six-party talks which resumed today, Liu said all sides will express views and concerns in the nuclear talks, and will discuss the implementation of the consensus already reached.
 
The first phase of the fifth round of the six-party talks is for all sides to express their political will and to show flexibility and sincerity.

He said the Chinese side hopes the talks will provide a platform for all sides to exchange views, increase mutual understanding and listen to the concerns of each other in an equal and candid atmosphere.

As for how long the upcoming talks will last, Liu said 3 days would be an appropriate choice, and the Chinese side still needs to consult with other delegations on the form, theme, contents and goals of the fifth round of the talks.

He said the six-party talks can be conducted in various forms, which would help the talks make progress, as past experiences have demonstrated. He hopes the six parties exchange views on relevant issues and concerns through different forms of contact.

When asked to define the success of the six-party talks, Liu said the talks are just a process before the final goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is realized, in which all sides are strengthening mutual understanding and accumulating consensus on relevant issues.

He said it needs common efforts from all sides to step forward to the final goal of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Liu said difficulties and problems are inevitable in this process, and all sides need to show enough patience, sincerity and flexibility on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula to push forward the six-party talks towards its final goal.

The six-party talks involve Japan, China, North Korea, the US, South Korea and Russia.

(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2005)