BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhuanet) -- The Hong Kong issue lies within Chinese domestic policy, and China stands opposed to unsolicited opinions from other countries on the issue, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao here Tuesday.

    Liu made the remarks at a routine press conference when commenting on a report by the US State Department on human rights and democracy, which said Hong Kong should have more democracy.

    Liu said China has noted this report, but democracy in Hong Kong has shown remarkable development since China resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1, 1997, and will continue to make progress. 

   France, Germany's back-up on arms ban

    China appreciates France and Germany's stance for an early end of the European Union's arms embargo, Liu Jianchao said.

    In response to a question about Jacques Chirac's Japan visit, he said the French president said in a meeting with Japanese PrimeMinister Junichiro Koizumi Sunday that the decision to lift the ban is political and France will not revoke it.

    "We hope the EU will proceed from the overall situation of EU-China relationship and lift the ban as soon as possible," Liu said.

    The European Union, keen to boost trade and diplomatic ties with China, agreed on December 17, 2004 to lift the embargo at endof June this year. The trade restrictions have been in place since1989.

    France has led efforts to secure an early end to the embargo despite pressure from Washington. The United States fears China may get access to advanced weapons, especially after its legislature adopted the Anti-Secession Law, which says in formal, legal terms that it will use force if Taiwan declares independence.

    According to Reuters, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told reporters March 23 after an EU summit that Germany backed French efforts to secure an early end of the ban.

    "China appreciates France and Germany's back-up to China on theissue, and that of other EU members," said the spokesman, adding his country expects an early end of the embargo.

    Military expenditure growth

    Japan should view the growth of China's military expenditure "objectively" and not "unreasonably" connect the growth with the arms embargo, Liu Jianchao said.

    Liu made the remarks in response to a question concerning the report issued by the Japanese Defense Agency. The report voiced worries about the two-digits growth of China's military spending in recent years and connected the growth with the country's quest for an early end of the European Union's arms embargo.

    The spokesman said Japan shouldn't cast stones. It is a countryone twenty-fifth the size of China in terms of territory and 10 percent of its population, but Japan's military spending was 41.5 billion US dollars while China's was 25.6 billion dollars, Liu acknowledged.

    The spokesman also said the report's connection of the China's military expenditure growth with EU arms embargo is all the more "without any reasons." The reason China seeks to lift the ban, noted Liu, is to remove the political discrimination against it.

    "Whatever, it had nothing to do with Japan and will not undermine Japan's interests. We hope that the country will adopt acorrect attitude on the issue," said Liu. 

    UN reform

    United Nations (UN) reform should take into consideration developing countries, especially African countries, Liu Jianchao said.

    The summit of world leaders for UN reform to take place in September should pay close attention to developing countries, particularly development-related issues for African countries suchas poverty, diseases and fund shortage, Liu told reporters at a regular press conference.

    Liu made the remark when asked to comment on the decision adopted by the African Union (AU) Executive Council to demand no less than two permanent seats in the UN reform summit. The decision was made by the Executive Council's 7th extraordinary session from March 7 to 8 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    China is in favor of enhancing the UN's role and authority through necessary and reasonable UN reform, said Liu. Reform should take into account suggestions from various sides and address their concerns. Meanwhile, the AU's position should be valued and taken into consideration.

    There is no world peace or development without stability and prosperity in Africa, Liu said. Africa is the largest continent with the most developing countries, and China hopes the African countries could play bigger role in every UN organization, including the Security Council, Liu said. 

    Situation in Kyrgyzstan  

    China is paying close attention to the turmoil in Kyrgyzstan, which has injured more than 10 Chinese citizens, Liu Jianchao said.

    In response to a question from the press, Liu said three Chinese citizens were seriously but not critically wounded.

    "Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Zhang Yannian went to the hospital to see the injured, and conveyed the concern and cordial regards from the Chinese government to the wounded," Liu said.

    China has asked Kyrgyzstan to treat the wounded within all its capabilities, he said.

    The Chinese Foreign Ministry and the embassy in Kyrgyzstan havelaunched a quick-response mechanism and established an emergency hotline, said Liu, who reminded Chinese citizens not to go to Kyrgyzstan at present if they do not have urgent need.

    "China has asked Kyrgyzstan to take effective measures to protect Chinese citizens, property and organizations timely," he said.

    Chinese citizens in Kyrgyzstan would have no problem returning home since regular flights between Kyrgyzstan and China are still in service, he said.

    Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing has talked over phone withthe other foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries except Kyrgyzstan, Liu said. "All sides are concerned about the current situation in Kyrgyzstan and hope that the situation there will become stable as early as possible," he said.

    Founded on June 15, 2001, SCO, a regional cooperation organization, now has six member states, including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

    All parties agree that the establishment and development of theSCO serves the interests of the region and all member states, and hope that effective cooperation within the SCO framework will continue, Liu said.  Enditem