BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- China deems the next UN Secretary-General will be chosen from an Asian country, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan here Thursday.

    Kong told a news conference that the next UN Secretary-General should come from an Asian country since an Asian has not held the post for 34 years.

    At present, some Asian countries have offered candidates, Kong said, expressing his hope the countries would hold friendly consultations so as to reach consensus.

    The UN secretary-general Kofi Annan winds up his second term this December. Under the UN Charter, a new secretary-general is nominated by 15 member states of the UN Security Council and is confirmed by the 191-nation General Assembly.

    Safety of Chinese in S. Africa

    Kong Quan on Tuesday asked South Africa to "take substantial measures" to protect life and property safety of Chinese citizens living there.

    He also urged South African police to strengthen investigation on those cases and punish the criminals. (see Robbery, murder arouse concerns among Chinese in S. Africa) 

    Iran nuclear standoff     

    China hopes that Russia's invitation to Iran to establish a joint-venture in uranium enrichment will help break the current stalemate on the nuclear issue, Kong Quan said.

    China supports Russia's proposal and has always backed every effort to enhance the international treaty of nuclear non-proliferation, said Kong.

    He added that China hopes the international society can reach an agreement through talks on a level playing field to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy by all countries.

    Russia's top nuclear energy official Sergei Kiriyenko said on Wednesday that a high-ranking Iranian delegation will visit Russiaon February 16 to discuss the proposal. Iran may become the first state to be involved in uranium enrichment on Russian territory.

    Kong said China looks forward to a positive outcome to the talks.

    As part of international efforts to solve the Iranian nuclear dispute, Russia has proposed that uranium enrichment - the most sensitive part of the nuclear energy process - be carried out under a joint-venture within their borders.

    Iran resumed research on uranium enrichment last month and announced it had ended all voluntary cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This included impromptu UN inspections of its nuclear sites and suspension of uranium enrichment after the IAEA voted last week to report the Iranian nuclear issue to the UN Security Council.

    Uranium enriched at low levels can fuel nuclear reactors, but if enriched further can be used for nuclear weapons.

    Pakistani president to visit China

    Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will pay a state visit to China.

    "At the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Pakistani President Musharraf will pay a state visit to China from Feb. 19 to 23," Kong Quan told a regular news briefing.

    Musharraf's visit will unveil a series of events marking the 55th anniversary of establishment of China-Pakistan diplomatic ties, Kong said.

    During his stay in China, Musharraf will meet with his Chinese counterpart and other Chinese leaders, Kong said.

    The two sides will discuss how to further promote the friendlyand mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Pakistan, Kong said, adding they will also exchange views on international and regional issues of common concern.

    The related departments from the two sides will also sign some documents of cooperation, Kong said.

    During his stay in Beijing, Musharraf will attend a reception marking the 55th anniversary of establishment of China-Pakistan diplomatic ties.

    Musharraf will also visit southwest China's Sichuan Province.

    China and Pakistan are friendly neighbors which share "the all-weather friendship and all-scope cooperation," Kong said. "I believe that Musharraf's visit will help push forward the strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries."

    Resumption of six-party talks     

    Kong Quan called on the participating countries of thesix-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue to make further efforts and reopen the negotiations at an early date.

    He said that all concerned parties, namely China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan, have kept "conducive" and "positive" contacts inrecent months.

    "We hope that all sides will further their efforts and properly deal with the difficulties and obstacles in the progress in a bid to realize an early resumption of the talks," Kong said.

    The first phase of the fifth round of the six-party talks was held in Beijing last November.

    Kong conceded that the U.S. financial sanction against the DPRK has become a "new impediment and complicated factor" in the talks.

    The United States froze the U.S.-based assets of eight DPRK companies last October, accusing them of proliferating weapons of mass destruction. Pyongyang refused to resume the talks under the US financial sanctions.

    Cyprus issue    

    China deems the Cyprus issue should be resolved fairly and reasonably, and in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions, Kong Quan said.

    China is very concerned about the Cyprus issue, said Kong, adding the Chinese government has always called for full respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus.

    He said the legitimate rights and interests of both Turkish and Greek Cypriots should be guaranteed.

    "Any solution should take into account the interests and concerns of both parties," added Kong.

    Kong pointed out that China supports what the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has done to accelerate the process for resolving the issue.

    Cyprus has been divided into the Greek Cypriot south and the Turkish Cypriot north since 1974.

    The latest UN-led efforts to reunite the island failed in April 2004, when Greek Cypriots rejected a UN reunification plan in a referendum, which was approved by the Turkish Cypriots in the north. Enditem