China expected all concerned parties would continue to fulfil their commitments in earnest and implement the second phase action plan on resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue in an all-round and balanced manner, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu at a regular press conference on Thursday.

 

Jiang said that with the joint efforts of all participants in the six-party talks, the second phase action plan was under implementation.

 

Some areas witnessed faster pace, while others were in slower pace. Jiang said this was normal.

 

Jiang said the all-round implementation of the second phase action plan would open a broader prospect for the six-party talks.

 

According to a six-party talks joint document released in Beijing on Oct. 3, 2007, North Korea agreed to disable all its existing nuclear facilities and provide a complete and correct declaration of all its nuclear programs by the end of 2007.

 

The six-party talks, initiated in 2003 and aimed at resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, involve China, North and South Korea, the US, Russia and Japan.

 

Indian PM's coming visit

 

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will pay an official visit to China from Jan. 13 to 15 at the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao, Jiang announced.

 

Jiang said China warmly welcomes and attaches great importance to Singh's upcoming visit and hopes this visit will enhance the friendship between the two peoples, expand bilateral mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields and promote the long-term, healthy and stable advancement of China-India strategic and cooperative partnership.

 

Jiang noted that the China-India relations currently see sound momentum of development. Last year, the two countries jointly held the China-India Tourism Year, conducted frequent high-level exchanges, and enhanced bilateral cooperation in various fields. The two sides also carried out sound bilateral coordination in dealing with international affairs, Jiang said.

 

The bilateral trade from January to November 2007 topped 34.2 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of 54 percent, Jiang added.

 

Noting that China and India, as the world's two largest developing countries, are faced with common mission for development and both committed to promoting world and regional peace and stability, Jiang said. China is willing to make joint efforts with India to push the bilateral strategic and cooperative partnership to a new stage.

 

On the border issue, Jiang said the Chinese and Indian special representatives conducted three meetings in 2007 and had helpful discussions, adding that China hopes to make further efforts together with India to strive for a mutually acceptable, fair and reasonable solution as soon as possible.

 

FM's African tour

 

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi's upcoming African visit will jointly promote the new type of strategic partnership between China and Africa, Jiang said.

 

The purpose of the visit is to increase mutual understanding, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and carry out the consensus reached at the Beijing Summit of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2006, Jiang Yu said.

 

Yang will pay official visits to South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi and Ethiopia from Jan. 7 to 11, according to the Foreign Ministry.

 

Jiang said Yang will meet with state leaders and hold talks with his counterparts of the four countries.

 

Trade between China and Africa surged in 2007, boosted by lower tariffs and other beneficial policies agreed on during the Beijing Summit.

 

Zhai Jun, Chinese assistant foreign minister, said in a recent interview that friendly cooperation between China and Africa had a "bright future".

 

"China and Africa have more than 50 years of friendly relations and it is an important part of China's foreign policy to consolidate and strengthen cooperation with African countries," Jiang said.

 

Pakistan general election

 

China hopes Pakistan's general election would be held smoothly, said Jiang.

 

"China hopes the election could be held smoothly and Pakistan would maintain stability and development," Jiang said.

 

Pakistan's parliamentary polls, originally scheduled for Jan. 8, would be postponed to Feb. 18, the election commission said Wednesday.

 

"This is Pakistan's internal affairs," Jiang said, adding that China respects the decision of Pakistan.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2008)