Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said in Beijing Thursday that the visit of US Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans to China is conducive to the economic and trade development of China and the United States.

Evans concluded his four-day visit on Wednesday. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Evans during his visit and the two exchanged views on issues of common concern in a "friendly, open and frank" atmosphere, Zhang said at yesterday's regular press conference.

Evans also held talks with senior officials of China's Ministry of Commerce and the two sides had deepened discussions on various issues related to China-US trade.

Zhang said the visit helped Evans get better understanding of Chinese government's efforts in solving the China-US trade problems and fulfilling its commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Zhang said it was true that China and the United States had some problems in trade but the two sides should handle them with a constructive attitude.

Zhang called on the US Congress to recognize the great strides being made by China.

Zhang said she hopes the United States will take measures to further promote Sino-US relations, especially economic and trade ties, and be more constructive in its attitude towards cooperative bilateral relations.

Responding to a question about China's performance in terms of sticking to its WTO membership commitments, Zhang said China is maintaining a serious attitude to fulfilling its commitments towards the WTO.

Zhang said the country has taken comprehensive measures, including revising and making laws, enforcing them and using administrative means, to fulfill its obligations.

"China has revised or abolished more than 3,000 laws and regulations to meet WTO requirements in recent years," she said, adding it shows the country's great determination on the issue. China became a WTO member in 2001.

Commenting on the visit to Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Israel by Wang Shijie, China's special envoy to the Middle East, the spokeswoman said this was Wang's third Middle East tour and another of China's diplomatic efforts to try and promote peace in this region.

Zhang said that Chinese envoy Wang Shijie visited Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Israel from Oct. 19-29.

According to Zhang, during his visit Wang met and exchanged views with prominent politicians from the six countries and the United Nations Secretary-General's representative in southern Lebanon.

Wang expressed concern over the current tension in the region, and tried to persuade relevant sides to stop violent conflicts and resume peace talks as soon as possible, Zhang said.

She said the special envoy had stressed that "violence for violence" would do no good to either the Arabs or Israel, and called on all sides concerned to exercise restraint, stop revenges, cooperate with peace efforts of the international community, resume all the talks at an early date, and implement the "road map" peace plan.

Zhang added that China's position and peace efforts had won praise from all sides.

In regard to United Nations (UN) Security Council reform, the spokeswoman said China supports change and the council should be appropriately enlarged due to developments over the past 50-plus years since its founding.

Zhang said the UN Security Council's formation should give priority to developing countries, as many had become UN members since the United Nations was founded.

The details of how to expand the UN Security Council should be discussed by all UN members, Zhang said.

The issue of UN reform has been put on the UN agenda. At the UN General Assembly this year, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan offered his proposal on UN reform, including the UN Security Council reform.

China will actively join in the discussion on UN reform, Zhang said.

(Sources including Xinhua News Agency and China Daily, October 31, 2003)