Kong said at a regular press conference that Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi's current visit to the United States has helped increase mutual understanding between China and the United States.

Wang started his four-day visit to the United States on July 1,during which he exchanged views with the US side on the situation in Asia, particularly that in the Korean Peninsula.

According to the spokesman, Wang held meetings with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Lee Armitage, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs John Robert Bolton, and Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs Paul V. Kelly on July 1.

Kong said Wang reiterated China's stance on the DPRK nuclear issue to the US side, urging the maintenance of peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, while keeping the peninsula free of nuclear weapons. Wang also said the DPRK's proper concerns over security should be addressed, according to Kong.

Wang said Beijing talks should continue and the two sides had discussions in this regard, according to Kong.

According to Kong, during Wang's visit, the US side expressed appreciation for China's efforts in promoting the talks in Beijing and also expressed willingness to keep the direction of a peaceful solution of the issue.

Kong said the DPRK nuclear issue involves the region and China welcomes the fact that all sides stand for settling the issue peacefully through diplomatic efforts and dialogue.

Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo is visiting Russia, and will exchange views on the DPRK nuclear issue with the Russian side, the spokesman said.

This not only shows that China and Russia keep close consultation, contacts, cooperation and coordination on major international and regional issues, and but also that the two sides share a common stance on the DPRK nuclear issue, said Kong.

Kong said China's attitude towards the number of participants of the talks in Beijing is open and flexible and China believes the result of the talks is far more important than its forms.

Kong said China will certainly continue its efforts for the peaceful solution of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, and also hopes to garner support from all relevant sides.

Under the current situation, China also hopes all sides will keep calm and show restraint and not take any action to make the situation worse, said Kong.

The nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula will also be one of the key topics of discussion during Republic of Korea (ROK) President Roh Moo-hyun's visit to China next week.

"I do think it will be a focus of the meeting because of the current situation on the peninsula and the reappearance of the nuclear issue,'' the spokesman said at yesterday's press conference.

Kong said that a peaceful resolution of the issue was of great importance to peace and stability of the peninsula, Northeast Asia and the whole of Asia.

Roh's visit to China, from July 7 to 10, is the first since his election in last December. President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao will meet and have talks with Roh on Monday.

When asked to comment on the demonstration in Hong Kong on Tuesday, Kong said that the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) has said it welcomes various opinions on governmental work and the development of Hong Kong, adding that Hong Kong compatriots shared the same position on the stability and economic revival in Hong Kong.

A large number of Hong Kong residents took to the streets on Tuesday to express their concerns on the proposed legislation on the National Security Bill, which will be drafted based on Article 23 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said in a press release on the same day that his government fully understood the importance the community attached to their rights and freedoms.

"We shall continue to take active steps to maintain and safeguard rights and freedoms and develop democracy in a gradual and orderly manner according to the blueprint laid down in the Basic Law,'' Tung was quoted as saying in the press release.

Tung pointed out that the legislation on the National Security Bill was a constitutional duty of the Hong Kong SAR. Just like nationals of other places, Hong Kong citizens have a duty to protect national security. In discharging this obligation, the government has pledged that the rights and freedoms which have been enjoyed by the people of Hong Kong will not be affected by the legislation.

Kong said yesterday that while examining the draft ordinance concerning national security, the Hong Kong SAR Legislative Council had listened to public opinion in an in-depth way.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman also announced yesterday that Palestinian National Authority Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath will visit China from July 10 to 12, describing it "a very significant event'' for both sides.

Kong said that Shaath will meet with China's Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing to discuss bilateral ties, the situation in the Middle East and the Iraq issue. China's Vice President Zeng Qinghong will also meet with the PNA foreign minister.

Kong said Shaath will have the opportunity to exchange views with Chinese officials from the Ministry of Commerce on how to boost bilateral economic and trade relations.

When asked if China ever considered sending troops to Iraq, the spokesman said Iraq is now facing many questions. The UN Security Council Resolution 1483 has an overall plan for the post-war reconstruction in Iraq, and clearly defines the role of the United Nations in handling the post-war affairs of Iraq.

China hopes that the relevant parties will take the Resolution 1483 as the legal basis to properly handle all the issues concerning the post-war Iraq, Kong said.

The Foreign Ministry said yesterday in a press release that up to yesterday, 77 countries have unfrozen entry restrictions from China and some countries said they would lift their restrictions soon.

At least 127 countries and regions took measures to restrict personnel entrance from China in April and May, and at least 14 countries warned their people not to travel to China.

But now the foreign exchanges are gradually returning to normal since the World Health Organization lifted travel adversary against Beijing on June 24, according to the press release.

(Sources from Xinhua News Agency, China Daily, and www.fmprc.gov.cn, July 4, 2003)