A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said in Beijing Saturday that China welcomed Libya's announcement to renounce weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and to receive international inspectors.

Spokesman Liu Jianchao made the remarks Saturday in response to a journalist's question upon Libya's such decision made on Dec. 19

China welcomes the Libyan announcement, said Liu, noting that non-proliferation of WMD and their means of delivery has been the consensus of the international community.

Liu said the Chinese side always held that political and diplomatic approaches are the most effective forms to achieve the goal of non-proliferation of WMD, and China supports the efforts to further international dialogues and cooperation in this aspect.

(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2003)