China on Tuesday urged the Japanese government to "remove obstacles" to bilateral ties on the eve of Japan's ruling party election.

 

"China hopes the Japanese government will honor its commitments and remove obstacles to bilateral ties as soon as possible," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang said at a regular press conference.

 

His comments came ahead of the leadership election of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which is scheduled to take place today.

 

"Japanese leaders should make political decisions and take actions to show their regret and apologize for wartime aggressions," Qin said.

 

Sino-Japanese relations have been soured by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's repeated visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, where Japan's war dead, including 14 Class A Second World War criminals, are honored.

 

Koizumi's last shrine visit on August 15, the 61st anniversary of his country's surrender, further damaged relations.

 

Koizumi is set to step down as premiere this month. Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, the leading prime ministerial candidate, has defended Koizumi's pilgrimages to the shrine and refused to say whether or not he would continue those visits should he become prime minister.

 

Qin said China has maintained a "clear and consistent" attitude on China-Japan relations, including the shrine visits and other historic issues.

 

The Chinese government demands Japan correctly view and handle the history issue, Qin said. "This will not only help Japan mend ties with neighbors, but also enhance Japan's international profile."

 

Handling of N. Korean illegal immigrants accords with law

 

China will, as always, properly deal with illegal immigrants from North Korea in accordance with Chinese law, international law and humanitarian principles, Qin said.

 

Qin said these North Korean immigrants were not refugees, but entered China because of "poor economic conditions," and their entrance is "illegal."

 

Such immigrants from North Korea have charged into the offices of foreign missions to China and international schools, violated Chinese law and disturbed public security, he said.

 

Sanction on North Korea opposed

 

China is opposed to financial sanctions on North Korea, Qin said, warning against further complication of the thorny issue.

 

The spokesman, in a comment on Japan's newly approved financial sanctions on North Korea, urged all sides in the six-party nuclear talks to keep calm and exercise restraint.

 

China has always maintained that the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula should be solved through dialogue, Qin said.

 

"All parties concerned should focus on how to resume the talks as soon as possible and avoid any action that could further complicate the situation."

 

However, Qin added that China has no plan to attend a 10-nation meeting proposed by the US on the nuclear issue.

 

Tuesday marked the first anniversary of the issuance of the Joint Statement of the six-party talks.

 

The statement, adopted at the end of the fourth round of talks on September 19, 2005, was regarded as the most substantial document since talks began in August 2003.

 

The statement offered a framework for solving the nuclear issue through dialogue, Qin said, urging all parties to make efforts to implement the statement.

 

The six-party talks, involving China, South and North Korea, the US, Russia and Japan, were stalled after the first phase of the fifth round of talks ended last November. 

 

China consults with UN on increasing peacekeepers in Lebanon

 

The Chinese government is consulting with the UN Secretariat on enlarging its peacekeeping force in Lebanon, Qin said.

 

"China would like to make positive contributions to peace in Middle East and is consulting with the UN Secretariat on increasing the number of peacekeepers to Lebanon."

 

China has always supported the peace process in the Middle East, Qin added.

 

"China believes the expansion and deployment of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon will be important for stabilizing the Middle East situation."

 

Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday announced that China would enlarge its peacekeeping force in Lebanon to 1,000.

 

Since 1990, China has participated in 15 UN operations, involving more than 6,000 Chinese peacekeepers, Qin said, and nine Chinese peacekeepers had died in UN peacekeeping operations.

 

More than 180 Chinese peacekeepers have already been deployed in Lebanon, most of whom are engineers.

 

UN peacekeepers in Darfur should first seek Sudan's permission

 

The Chinese government on Tuesday urged discretion on the issue of deploying UN peacekeepers to Darfur and said the permission of the Sudanese government should first be sought.

 

"The issue should be fully discussed and especially approved by the Sudanese government and relevant African organizations and countries, so the peacekeeping actions can make real achievements," Qin said.

 

Qin said the Chinese government's consistent stance was that peacekeeping actions should first have the permission of the country concerned, not only on the issue of Darfur, but also in other actions in which China had participated.

 

China had always been concerned about the situation in Darfur and done everything it could to help, Qin added.

 

He said China had provided humanitarian aid to Sudan and assistance to the peacekeeping troops of the African Union (AU) in the region. Moreover, China had actively consulted with the Sudanese government.

 

Last month, the UN Security Council passed a resolution that would allow the UN to assume control over the peacekeeping mission in Darfur from the AU, whose mandate is to expire on September 30.

 

Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced because of the conflict in the troubled Darfur region.

 

Call for diplomatic negotiations on Iran nuclear issue 

 

All parties involved in the Iran nuclear issue should maintain diplomatic negotiations and dialogue, and promote a peaceful resolution to the matter, Qin said.

 

Qin said all sides should make the most of the opportunity provided by the negotiations between the EU and Iran, which were making progress.

 

French President Jacques Chirac on Monday urged the six major powers involved the issue -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US -- not to refer Iran to the UN Security Council, and to find an agenda for negotiation, then engage in such negotiations.

 

A peaceful resolution of the Iran nuclear issue through diplomatic negotiations was the common will of the international community, Qin said, adding it was also in the interests of all parties and was the "best option."

 

Referring to reports that Iran is jointly carrying out nuclear programs with North Korea, Qin said the Chinese government hoped any measures taken would promote diplomatic negotiations, and help resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and the Iran nuclear issue peacefully.

 

US Treasury Secretary's China visit to boost Sino-US ties 

 

The Chinese government expects US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's visit to China to promote mutual understanding and trust, Qin said.

 

Paulson kicked off a four-day visit to China on Tuesday. Chinese leaders and officials from the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministries of Finance, Commerce, Health, and Information Industry are scheduled to meet or hold talks with him.

 

Qin said the two sides will exchange views on issues including strengthening economic and trade cooperation, which benefits the two countries' constructive partnership, and influences global economic safety, stability and growth.

 

"China and the US each have their interests and concerns, which Paulson's visit will provide opportunities to express," Qin said.

 

More important, China and the US should view bilateral ties from an all-round perspective and take a wide range of common interests into consideration, Qin added.

 

China revalued its currency, the yuan, in July last year by linking it to a basket of currencies instead of the US dollar alone and allowing it to move within a 0.3 percent floating band on a daily basis.

 

"Both China and the US have their own concerns," Qin said, adding the currency issue is separate from political issues and should not hinder the development of Sino-US economic and trade ties.

 

China willing to conduct space cooperation with US

 

China would like to conduct space cooperation with the US and other countries, Qin said.

 

Qin was speaking in advance of the visit to China by Michael Griffin, the administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

 

The peaceful exploitation of space is the common goal of mankind, Qin said.

 

China hopes space organizations from China and the US can establish steady relations and discuss the possibility of cooperation in space science and application.

 

Griffin is reportedly scheduled to visit China from September 24 to 28, making stops in Beijing and Shanghai.

 

China has already signed 16 pacts with 13 governments and organizations, and established space industry cooperation with more than 40 countries and international organizations.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2006)