Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu Thursday told a regular press conference that China insists on seeking a just and rational solution on border issue with India.

"China maintains its stance that both sides should seek a rational solution through friendly consultation," said Jiang.

The two countries appointed special envoys in 2003 to draw up a resolution to the dispute. Since then, frequent diplomatic efforts on the border issue have been carried out, leading to the "guiding principles" on how to resolve the dispute, an agreement signed by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2005.

When asked to comment on recent remarks about China's human rights record made by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Jiang said "China strongly opposes interference in the internal affairs of other countries. China has always advocated dialogue on the basis of equality and mutual respect to broaden common consensus and narrow differences," Jiang said.

"China attaches great importance to China-Canada relations," Jiang said, adding that Chinese President Hu Jintao is scheduled to meet with Harper during the APEC meeting.

In another development, "China is resolutely opposed to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," said Jiang.

Jiang responded to recent speculation that China was considering joining the Proliferation Security Initiatives (PSI), a US-led counter-proliferation initiative proposed by US President George W. Bush in 2003.

"We advocate the strengthening of international cooperation to solve the proliferation issue through political and diplomatic means," she said.

On Commander of the US Pacific Fleet Gary Roughead's visit to China, Jiang said that it was conducive to mutual understanding and trust of the two militaries.

Roughead is paying a visit to China from November 12 to 18 at the invitation of the Chinese PLA's Navy.

During his week-long visit, Roughead is scheduled to meet with senior Chinese military officers and government officials including Ge Zhenfeng, deputy chief of the PLA General Staff; Wu Shengli, Chinese PLA Navy commander; and He Yafei, assistant to the Chinese Foreign Minister.

Besides Beijing, he also visited Shanghai and Zhanjiang in south China's Guangdong Province.

He welcomed the USS Juneau (LPD 10) in Zhanjiang, which will participate in a search-and-rescue exercise with the Chinese Navy on November 19.

The event is the second phase of the first-ever joint Sino-American search-and-rescue exercises, agreed on by Chinese and US military leaders.

"These exercises will help improve mutual understanding and build trust between the two militaries, particularly the two navies," Jiang said.

On the six-party talks, China hopes all relevant parties seize the current positive opportunity to work towards their resumption and progress, said Jiang.

"China will keep contact with all relevant sides on setting the date for the talks," she said.

Foreign ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation members that are sovereign states met Thursday in Hanoi, and agreed to support the process of the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue, she said.

They also exchanged views on other international and regional issues including the Iranian nuclear and Middle East issues, she added.

The six-party talks, involving China, North Korea, the United States, South Korea, Russia and Japan, have held five rounds and remained stalled since the last round was held in Beijing last November.

The heads of delegations to the six-party talks from China, North Korea and the United States had an informal meeting in Beijing on October 31, and agreed that the six-party talks be resumed soon when convenient to the six parties.

On Sudan's Darfur issue, Jiang said that China hopes all parties involved continue the dialogue momentum for a peaceful resolution of the issue at an early date.

"The deployment of UN peacekeepers in Darfur should first have the consent of the Sudanese government," Jiang said, noting China has taken notice of recent diplomatic efforts on the Darfur issue by the United Nations (UN), African Union(AU) and Arabic Union.

The UN peacekeeping chief proposed a three-step plan on Tuesday to beef up the understaffed, badly equipped and cash-strapped AU peacekeeping force in Darfur.

"As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China will continuously play a constructive role in solving the Darfur issue," said she.

China also expressed its deep concern on the tensions between Israel and Palestine, and is paying close attention to the deteriorating human rights situation and humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory.

"China calls upon Israel to stop its military action immediately, and hopes the two sides respond to the mediating efforts and prevent deterioration of the situation," Jiang said. China will work with the relevant parties to push for a peaceful solution to the issue, she added.

According to Jiang, the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday held a special meeting on the occupied Palestinian territory and adopted a resolution. China voted in favor of the resolution.

Also on Thursday, Jiang said that China appreciated and supported any efforts aimed at securing peace, stability and development in Africa and is willing to work with the global community achieve these goals.

The remarks followed reports from Germany quoting German Chancellor Angela Merkel as saying the European Union would make African development a priority in 2007 and that Germany would lay the groundwork for a summit that would bring together African and European leaders.

The EU is set to wrap up its EU-Africa Week, a series of meetings and discussions aimed at covering issues ranging from politics to culture. The event is part of the EU's European Development Days, a collection of events focused on European efforts to boost assistance to the developing world.

China rolled out its own red carpet for 48 delegations from African countries earlier this month for the Summit of China-Africa Cooperation Forum. The event showcased the signing of a series of agreements worth US$1.9 billion.

Jiang reiterated Beijing's consistent stance of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, saying China respected the path to development that African nations had chosen.

"We will never impose our own ideology, values or preferred methods for development on other countries, especially African countries, " said Jiang.

She said China thinks development is a priority for Africa, which faces severe challenges in terms of alleviating poverty and illnesses.

She urged the international community to pay more attention to Africa's stability and development.

"Sino-Africa co-operation is not targeting any third party and will not threaten the interests of any other country," Jiang concluded.

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily November 17, 2006)