Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei is on a visit in North Korea to push for the process of the six-party talks, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang at a regular press conference on Tuesday.

 

Wu, top negotiator of the Chinese delegation to the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, conferred with his North Korean counterpart Kim Kye-gwan on current situation and future efforts, Qin said.

 

Qin said the six-party talks achieved positive progress, and this momentum should be sustained.

 

All concerned parties should increase mutual trust and work actively to fulfill their agreements, Qin said, urging that relevant targets should be put into practice.

 

The six-party talks involve China, North and South Korean, the US, Russia and Japan.

 

Japan's missile test

 

Qin said China hopes Japan's actions, including its latest missile test, are beneficial for regional peace and trust.

 

Japan on Monday successfully tested a US-built missile system off the coast of Hawaii. It has been designed to track and destroy missiles, according to the Japanese defense ministry.

 

"We noticed Japan has reiterated on many occasions that it pursues the road of peaceful development," Qin told reporters.

 

"The Chinese side hopes that the actions of Japan are favorable for regional peace and stability, and conducive for mutual trust among the countries in the region," he said.

 

He declined to comment on reports that the US-Japan joint missile effort was aimed at China-developed medium-range missiles.

 

Responding to questions on the test's influence on situations across the Taiwan Strait, Qin said "the Taiwan issue is China's internal affair, and China opposes any interference from any country in any forms into Taiwan affairs."

 

Protest in Vietnam

 

China urged Vietnam to take efficient measures to prevent protesting incidents targeting China from happening again, Qin made the remarks in response to a question concerning recent protests in Vietnam targeting China.

 

The protests happened in Vietnam's two cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, on Sunday, while similar incidents took place on Dec. 9, according to Qin.

 

"China pays close attention to protests in Vietnam targeting China," he said. He urged Vietnamese leaders to take effective measures to stop it and avoid bilateral ties from being hurt.

 

Several hundred demonstrators marched near the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi and its consulate in Ho Ch Minh City on Sunday, protesting against China's sovereignty over the Xisha and Nansha islands, according to Vietnamese news reports.

 

Qin said earlier that China had indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea and the adjacent waters. This was China's consistent stance.

 

Leaders of the two countries had exchanged views on this issue several times and agreed to settle the dispute through dialogue and consultation to safeguard the stability of the South China Sea and Sino-Vietnamese relations, he added.

 

J-10 fighter jets

 

China denied selling J-10 fighter jets to Iran, saying the reports were "groundless" and "irresponsible".

 

"China has never consulted with Iran on the so-called fighter jets issue, and has no consideration in this regard," Qin said.

 

The Chinese government always takes a prudent and responsible attitude towards arms exports and imposes strict controls over such exports according to China's international obligations and domestic laws and regulations, he said.

 

Ties with Russia

 

Qin said China would like to make joint efforts with Russia's new leadership to further boost the strategic partnership of cooperation between the two nations.

 

Qin made the remarks in response to reports of Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to lead the government after the March election.

 

"We have taken note of the reports," Qin said. "Russian people have their rights to choose a development road that accords with Russia's domestic situation."

 

China believes Russia's presidential election will proceed smoothly, Qin said.

 

He hailed China-Russia relations since Putin took office in 2000."China spoke highly of President Putin's important contribution to the development of our bilateral ties. We expect to push forward the relations with Russia's new leadership," Qin said.

 

Putin said on Monday that he will lead the government if First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev wins the March presidential election.

 

Bali roadmap

 

China welcomed the roadmap adopted at the UN climate change conference in Indonesia's Bali, calling on joint efforts from the international community to reach a global climate agreement by the end of 2009.

 

"The roadmap has shown the way and set a timetable for future negotiations on global climate change," Qin said.

 

China will continue to participate actively in relevant negotiations, he said, urging developed countries to continue to reduce emissions after 2012 according to the roadmap, and to leverage new funding and support for technology transfer, finance and adaptation for the developing world.

 

The 12-day UN climate change conference ended last Saturday with the adoption of the Bali roadmap, which is expected to launch negotiations on a crucial international climate change regime up to 2009.

 

The roadmap includes a clear agenda for the key issues to be negotiated up to 2009, including actions for adapting to the negative consequences of climate change, ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ways to deploy climate-friendly technologies and financing both adaptation and mitigation measures.

 

The conference was attended by more than 11,000 people, making it the largest UN climate change gathering ever held.

 

Next year's UN climate change conference will be held in Poznan, Poland.

 

Japanese PM's visit

 

China and Japan are making active contacts and preparations for Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's visit to China, Qin said.

 

Fukuda had told Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Singapore last month that he hoped to visit the country at an early date, possibly within this year or at the beginning of next year.

 

Qin said the exact date of the visit would be announced after it is agreed upon by the two sides.

 

Bolivian FM's coming visit

 

Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca will pay an official visit to China from Dec. 20-24 as guest of Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Qin announced.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2007)