China and India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on their defense cooperation. The MOU was signed during Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee's ongoing visit to China.

The MOU will be beneficial to the growth of Sino-Indian military relations and "will not target any third country", said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao at Tuesday's regular press conference in Beijing.

Mukherjee arrived in Beijing on Sunday afternoon for a six-day visit to China, which will also take him to northwestern Gansu Province and Shanghai municipality.

This is Mukherjee's first trip to China since he took office in 2004.

Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan and Mukherjee held talks on Monday, and agreed to deepen military exchanges between the two armed forces.

In a meeting with Mukherjee on Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing pledged to step up strategic and cooperative relations with India in 2006, designated as the year of friendship between China and India.

Turning to North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun's visit to China, Liu said that Paek's talks with Chinese officials were "mainly about bilateral issues".

Paek arrived in Beijing on Tuesday and met with Li Zhaoxing.

"On issues that concern the interests of North Korea, China will keep communications with North Korea and step up mutual understanding and support," Li said.

"Li and Paek exchanged views on Korean Peninsula nuclear issues," according to a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

China and North Korea have conducted active exchange and cooperation in various fields, and the bilateral relations have shown renewed vitality, the statement said.

Li reiterated that China would like to work with North Korea to continuously promote bilateral ties.
 
"North Korea will try its best to advance its friendly cooperation with China, which is the unchanged guideline of the North Korea government," Paek said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also met with Paek on Tuesday afternoon, discussing bilateral relations and issues of common concern.

Paek is visiting China as Li's guest.

Paek's China tour is of particular interest because it comes at a time when the six-party talks on Korean nuclear issue remain at an impasse.

The last round of talks held in Beijing last November, involving China, North Korea, the United States, South Korea, Russia and Japan, ended with a Chairman's Statement, in which the parties concerned agreed to resume the talks as soon as possible.

But there are no signs that the talks will resume anytime soon. US financial sanctions on Pyongyang for alleged counterfeiting and money laundering are reportedly the sticking point. 

Christopher Hill, chief US negotiator to the six-party talks, visited Beijing last week and said that no progress had been made.

Further, experts said that Paek's talks with Chinese officials will not produce any substantial results on the resumption of six-party talks, as he was not North Korea's chief negotiator to the nuclear talks.

"But Paek's visit could at least ensure good communications between China and North Korea," they added.

Paek is also scheduled to visit Guangdong Province.

Liu said Paek's visit to Guangdong will help enhance mutual understanding and information exchange on economic development.

In other announcements, Liu said that China has called for the ruling Palestinian authority, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), to take into consideration the fundamental interests of the Palestinian people, to renounce violence, and recognize Israel as a valid entity.

Further, China holds that the Palestinians should accept previously reached Palestinian-Israeli agreements.

The European Union and the US have cut off aid to the Palestinian National Authority since Hamas formed a government in late March.

Liu said that the Chinese side is concerned about the situation in the Middle East, and doesn't stand for political isolation and economic blockage.

He said all the relevant parties in the Middle East should solve disputes through political consultations based on relevant UN resolutions and the principle of land for peace, so as to realize peaceful coexistence.

Liu also said the Chinese side will make clear its stance to Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmoud al-Zahar who will attend the foreign ministers' meeting of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum to be held in Beijing on Wednesday and Thursday.

Regarding Monday's rioting in Afghanistan, Liu said that China has made its representations to the relevant departments to ensure the safety of the embassy, embassy staff and citizens.

A US military truck was involved in a traffic accident in Kabul that sparked off one of the worst rioting since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. A curfew has been declared in Kabul.

"China hopes the situation will calm down as soon as possible and Afghanistan maintains stability," Liu said.

Turning to the earthquake that rattled Indonesia, the Chinese government has decided to provide Indonesia with relief materials worth 10 million yuan (US$1.25 million).

A special chartered plane will fly these materials to airports designated by the Indonesian side, the Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday.

China announced last Saturday that it would be providing an urgent aid package of US$2 million in cash and a rescue team to quake-affected areas by Monday.

"We believe the Indonesian government and people are able to overcome difficulties and rebuild their homes with the help of the international community," Liu said.

At least 5,427 people have died in the quake that measured 5.9 on the Richter scale, which hit Indonesia's Java Island last Saturday.

On the Iran nuclear crisis, Liu said that senior representatives from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany will meet in Vienna on Thursday to discuss the issue.

"Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo will take part in the meeting."

Liu urged the parties concerned to take a constructive attitude in order to create favorable conditions for the resumption of negotiations.

China supports a peaceful resolution of the issue.

"As a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran enjoys the right to peaceful use of nuclear power," Liu said. "But it should also fulfill its corresponding responsibilities and commitments.
 
"China urges Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and regain the confidence of the international community on its nuclear program."

China has also spoken highly of a package of incentives raised by France, Germany and Britain, Liu added.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom - plus Germany are expected to talk about a decision to offer Iran a package of incentives in return for Iran's suspension of its nuclear activities.

The six nations achieved some progress in formulating a joint position at the meeting in London last Wednesday.

On state visits, Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Morshed Khan will pay an official visit to China from June 5 to 7 at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines Noli de Castro will pay an official visit to China from June 4 to 9 at the invitation of Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong.

Foreign Minister of the Republic of Ghana Nana Dankwa Akufo-Addo will pay an official visit to China from June 5 to 8 at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

(Xinhua News Agency May 31, 2006)