The Foreign Ministry yesterday rejected criticisms by World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz who alleged that Chinese banks were ignoring human rights and environmental standards when lending in Africa.

 

"The accusation is groundless," ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular press conference, reiterating China's policy of not interfering in the internal affairs of other countries.

 

"China will neither let other countries impose their values, social systems or ideologies on it nor do a similar thing to other countries," he said.

 

Liu said that China's economic and trade cooperation with African countries is carried out on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, adding that it contributes to improving African people's living standards, and their economic and social development.

 

According to the Ministry of Commerce statistics, China's total investment in Africa has reached US$6.27 billion. More than 720 major projects have been completed in 49 countries on the continent with Chinese assistance, and 58 projects have been launched in 26 countries with preferential loans from China.

 

Moreover, China has waived 10.9 billion yuan (US$1.38 billion) of debt owed by 31 heavily indebted and least developed countries in Africa, and continues to extend zero-tariff treatment on certain imports from 28 of the continent's least developed countries. China has also trained over 14,600 African personnel in various fields.

 

Turning to the Korean nuclear issue, Liu said North Korea does not have any plan to conduct a second nuclear test.

 

The assurance came after State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, sent as a special envoy of President Hu Jintao, met North Korean leader Kim Jong-il in Pyongyang last week, Liu said.

 

"But if it faces pressure, North Korea reserves the right to take further action," Liu said, quoting Tang, but did not give any other details.

 

A second test has been widely believed to be a possibility. Earlier this month, US media reported that Pyongyang could be preparing for one, citing increased activity at a suspected test site in the country's northeast.

 

But South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported yesterday that the US military had not detected signs of preparations for a second test.

 

According to Liu, Kim told Tang that North Korea was willing to return to six-party talks -- involving China, Russia, the US, Japan, and North and South Korea -- aimed at making the Korean Peninsula nuclear free. Their discussions were "frank," Liu said.

 

He pointed out that some media reports about Kim apologizing for the nuclear test on October 9 were "not accurate."

 

South Korean news reports said Kim had expressed regret for the test during Tang's visit.

 

In response to questions on how China would implement UN Resolution 1718 that imposed sanctions on Pyongyang, Liu said China would take practical measures to do so in a responsible manner.

 

"However, sanctions are not the purpose. They should serve the goal of peacefully settling the crisis through dialogue and consultation," Liu said.

 

He asked parties concerned not to willfully interpret, or expand, the sanctions and escalate the crisis.

 

Liu said China has no plans to stop food and oil assistance to Pyongyang, noting that the UN resolution does not apply to normal trade between the two countries.

 

He also confirmed that South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon would arrive in Beijing on Friday for talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Zhaoxing on the nuclear stalemate. He will also meet with President Hu and State Councilor Tang.

 

The trip by the 62-year-old senior diplomat, who is set to become the next UN secretary-general, is part of a recent flurry of shuttle diplomacy seeking peaceful solutions to the Korean nuclear issue.

 

Ban reportedly said he plans to use his position as UN chief, which he will assume at the beginning of next year, to "seek an active role for the peaceful resolution of the Korean nuclear issue."

 

Liu also announced that Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov would visit China on November 9 and 10 for a regular meeting with Premier Wen Jiabao and to attend a ceremony to mark the conclusion of the "Year of Russia in China."

 

Before Fradkov's visit, Liu said, Vice Premier Wu Yi and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov will co-chair the 10th meeting of the Committee for Regular Meeting of Prime Ministers of the two countries on November 7.

 

In addition, State Councilor Chen Zhili and Zhukov will co-chair the seventh session of the China-Russia Cooperation Committee on Education, Culture, Health and Sports on November 6.

 

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily October 25, 2006)