Developed countries should provide more funds and technological support to developing countries to help them address climate change, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said yesterday at a regular press conference in Beijing.

This does not mean developing nations should not try on their own to combat global warming, he added. Developing countries, including China, should attach great importance to the issue and face the challenge according to their respective situations and levels of development.

Qin's remarks came after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged China to do more to tackle climate change.

Despite its low per capita emissions, China uses effective measures to cut green house gases and control their impact on the environment, Qin said.

Chinese FM visits DPRK

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will meet with top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Il Tuesday afternoon, Qin told the press conference.

Yang, who is visiting the DPRK, also held talks with DPRK Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun on Tuesday morning. The two foreign ministers agreed to push forward the six-party talks in line with the February 13 joint document, Qin said.

He said Yang would reiterate to the DPRK China's commitment to resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula by peaceful means and through consultation and dialogue.

Qin said China was flexible about when the six-party talks would resume, and would consult with all parties on this issue.

Under an agreement adopted by the six parties during February talks, the DPRK was supposed to shut down and seal off the Yongbyon facilities within 60 days in exchange for 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil or equivalent aid.

The DPRK recently invited the IAEA to inspect its nuclear facility, a step welcomed by the international community and a positive sign for the six-party talks process.

Yang arrived in Pyongyang on Monday for a three-day visit after concluding a visit to Mongolia. The Korean peninsula nuclear issue is at the top of Yang's agenda for the trip.

The spokesman said the two foreign ministers praised bilateral ties, reached a consensus on furthering cooperation and consultation, and agreed to exchange views on international and regional issues of common concern.

They also agreed to enhance economic and trade cooperation, as well as cultural, educational, and tourism exchanges, Qin said.

Calling economic and trade cooperation an important component of bilateral ties, Yang said China would like to develop cooperation with the DPRK on agriculture, light industry, mining resources, and information technology in the spirit of reciprocity and common prosperity, Qin said.

Kim Jong-il said the DPRK viewed economic and trade cooperation with China from a strategic perspective, and would increase investment and trade based on equality and mutual benefit, the spokesman said.

Export safety

China defended its recent export safety problems, saying it had taken a responsible attitude and made earnest efforts to ensure the quality and safety of Chinese products.

Qin attributed the export problems to "misunderstanding,” illegal producers, and differences in the inspection systems and policies of China and other countries.

Qin also urged the media not to exaggerate the problems. "We understand the concerns of consumers abroad about the safety of food and medicine. Meanwhile we hope the media can cover the issue in an objective and rational manner," he said.

"We are willing to carry out cooperation with other countries on product safety and quality," said Qin.

Sino-Japanese Ties

China expressed the hope that progress would continue to be made with Sino-Japanese ties as the countries commemorate the 70th anniversary of the War of Resistance.

"At this point in time, we should keep in mind the spirit of 'taking history as a mirror and looking to the future' and properly handle related issues so as to maintain the momentum of developing China-Japan relations," said Qin.

Relations have become warmer recently as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made an "ice-breaking visit" to China in October last year, followed by an "ice-thawing journey" by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to Japan in April.

This year is the 70th anniversary of "July 7 Incident," the beginning of the War of Resistance against Japan in China, and the Nanjing Massacre. The massacre occurred in December 1937 when Japanese troops occupied Nanjing, then capital of China, and killed more than 300,000 citizens.

"The reason why we choose not to forget the past is to cherish the hard-won peace and happy life and open up a better future," Qin said.

Ecuador oil conflict

No Chinese workers have been injured in the conflict over a Chinese-invested oil company in Ecuador, Qin said.

The Chinese government is monitoring the situation closely. Operations have returned to normal, Qin said, and the production in the rigs has resumed.

State visits

Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi will head for Singapore on July 9 to attend two bilateral meetings at the invitation of her Singaporean counterpart Wong Kan Seng.

Wu and Wong will co-chair the fourth meeting of China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation and the ninth meeting of the Joint Steering Committee of the Suzhou Industrial Park.

Wu is scheduled to end her Singapore trip on July 12.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi is to pay an official visit to Russia from July 12-15 at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar will pay an official visit to China from July 9 to 13 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.

Syrian Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah al-Dardari will pay an official visit to China from July 8 to 11 at the invitation of the Chinese government.

Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam will pay an official visit to China from July 7 to 9 at the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

(China Daily, Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2007)