Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan made the remarks at Tuesday's regular briefing when asked whether China would provide the DPRK with fuel aid if the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) moved to cut off shipments to the DPRK.

Under the agreement, the DPRK agreed to freeze its graphite-moderated reactors and related facilities in exchange for 500,000 tons of fuel oil a year.

Kong said everyone knows fully well that the question of fuel oil "was agreed within the framework document."

"It's our view that the parties concerned should continue to implement the framework document faithfully," said Kong. He noted that dialogue, consultations and peaceful means should be used to settle the issue.

Kong's comments followed the arrival of US Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly, who is scheduled to meet Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi today.

Kong said Kelly would meet with ministry officials to discuss bilateral ties and exchange views on East Asian affairs and international issues of common interest to both sides.

Kelly is on a three-nation tour that has already taken him to Tokyo and Seoul, where discussions centered on the continuation of fuel oil shipment to the DPRK.

Kelly's trip to Beijing is the second in a month and the first since Chinese President Jiang Zemin and US President George W. Bush met last month at Bush's Texas ranch.

Kong said that during the meetings, Kelly and Wang would also follow up on key agreements reached between the two presidents as well as other regional and international issues of common concern.

Ballistic Missiles

When commenting on China's refusal to sign the International Code of Conduct Against Ballistic Missiles, Kong said it would not influence China's position on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

"We attach great importance to the international code of conduct and support the principles of non-proliferation," Kong said.

Kong indicated that China has from the beginning participated in the negotiations of the International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missiles but "regretfully the final text of the code of the conduct has not taken into consideration China's suggestions." This makes it difficult for China to sign, Kong said.

China has clearly expressed that it does not support, encourage or participate in proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, adding that China has made efforts to cooperate with the international community on the issue.

(China Daily November 13, 2002)