BEIJING, Nov. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao Thursday expressed the hope that the upcoming China visit of the US President George W. Bush will further promote bilateral relations between the two countries.

    Speaking at a regular press conference, Liu said that Bush will visit China from Nov. 19 to 21 and will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and other Chinese leaders during his stay in the country.

    Sino-US ties have been "going on smoothly" on the whole judging from the overall trend and development of bilateral relations overthe past few years, Liu said, adding that good bilateral relations have brought concrete benefits to the peoples of the two countries as well.

    Leaders and governments of the two countries are increasingly aware that it is in the interests of both countries to strengthen bilateral relations and build a constructive partnership in the 21st century, which is also conducive to the peace and stability of the region and the world.

    He said that China hopes to narrow differences and promote mutual understanding and trust in order to enhance comprehensive bilateral cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

     Rejection of US condemnation of China's religious situation

    The US State Department recently once again criticized China's religious policies in its 2005 annual International Religious Freedom Report.

    When asked to comment on this report, Liu told a regular press conference that the report posed unreasonable criticism of China's religious policies, trampled the norms of international relations and interfered in China's internal affairs.

    Liu said China protects its citizens' religious rights in accordance with its law, and all ethnic groups and people across the country enjoy religious freedom. "Chinese people have a say in this matter," Liu noted.

    Liu urged the United States to stop its "intervention" in China's internal affairs in regards to religion, to "face up" to its own domestic problems of religious freedom, and to take more actions conducive to promoting China-US mutual understanding. 

    Cooperation with S. Asia

    As a friendly neighbor of South Asia, China is willing to strengthen cooperation with South Asian countries to achieve common prosperity, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said here Thursday.

    The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) will hold its 13th summit on Nov. 12 in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, and China wishes the summit great success, Liu said.

    Since the SAARC was set up 20 years ago, it has played an important role in promoting economic and social development in the South Asian region. China hopes the SAARC will make greater achievements in pushing forward regional cooperation, he said.

    The SAARC summit was originally to be held in Dhaka from Jan. 9to 11. But it was postponed due to the impact of the Dec. 26 tsunami that devastated its three member states -- Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives.

    It was then rescheduled for Feb. 6-7, but was again canceled as India refused to attend it due to the political situation in Nepal and the security situation in Bangladesh.

    The SAARC, established in December 1985, has seven member states, namely India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. 

    $26 mln aid to quake-hit Pakistan 

    With the end of shipment of emergency relief goods to quake-hit Pakistan, China offered a total of 26.73 million US dollars to Pakistani victims, Liu said.

    He told the regular briefing that China shipped its 10th batch of emergency disaster relief goods to Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, Wednesday night.

    A total of 1,911 tons of relief goods, including materials, cash and medical services, were airlifted by 24 planes to Pakistan after a powerful earthquake measuring 7.8 on Richter Scale jolted Pakistan on Oct. 8, Liu said.

    Sent in three batches, the emergency disaster relief goods covered 4,674 tents, 24,000 bedquilts, 24,000 padded mattress, 9,200 blankets, 24,000 bedsheets and 900 power generating units, Liu said.

    The death toll came to 73,276, according to the official figures released by Islamabad early November.

    Six-parties talks

    China expects the six parties to the Korean nuclear issue talks to enhance mutual trust and allay misgivings to jointly push forward the talks, Liu said.

    Liu told a regular press conference that the second plenary session of the current round of six-party talks was held here Thursday, at which all parties concerned continued to discuss the implementation of the goals set by the Joint Statement which was signed in September.

    "The six parties conducted in-depth discussions in a pragmatic and positive atmosphere and set forth some constructive suggestions," Liu said.

    The fifth round of six-party talks, which involve China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Unites States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan, started Wednesday morning at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.

    Liu said that China, as the host and one of the participants, has its own stance and opinions on the implementation of the Joint Statement, but it still needs to absorb some beneficial and positive contents from other parties.

    China expects the six parties to reach an optimal and balanced plan that can be accepted by all parties through in-depth consultations, the spokesman said, adding that the plan should bebuilt on the basis of allaying misgivings and increasing mutual trust.

    As for the divergences among the parties, it is "quite normal" and "expected" that different opinions exist on such an important and complicated issue, Liu said.

    More bilateral consultations will be held on Friday as the current round of talks comes into the third day, he said.

    China had hosted four rounds of six-party talks since August 2003. The current phase of this fifth-round talks will probably last for three days, according to the Foreign Ministry. Enditem