BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhuanet) -- China and Japan will
hold the fourth round of consultations on the East China Sea issue on March 6
and 7 in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said here on
Thursday.
The Chinese delegation will be headed by Hu Zhengyao,
director of the Asian Department of Chinese Foreign Ministry, while the Japanese
delegation will be led by Kenichiro Sasae, head of the Asian and Oceanian
Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
"The two sides will continue to exchange views on the
East China Sea issue," Qin said.
Since October 2004, China and Japan have held three
rounds of talks on the East China Sea issue.
U.S.-India nuclear
cooperation
China hopes that activities some countries conduct in peaceful use of nuclear
energy are conducive to maintaining the authoritativeness and effectiveness of
the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) mechanism.
Qin Gang made the remark in response to a reporter's
question on U.S.-India nuclear cooperation at a routine press conference here on
Thursday.
Qin said that the NPT mechanism plays a significant
role in promoting nuclear nonproliferation, disarmament of nuclear weapons and
peaceful use of nuclear energy, highlighting that the nuclear cooperation
between countries should comply with the NPT mechanism and international
obligations.
The international community is making efforts to
maintain the effectiveness and the authoritativeness of the NPT mechanism, Qin
said.
China, as a founding member of the treaty, calls for
more countries to join the treaty as nuclear-free members and contribute to
maintaining the NPT mechanism and regional and international peace and
stability, Qin said.
India and the United States on Thursday reached an
agreement on civil nuclear cooperation during U.S. President George W. Bush's
visit to India.
Iran nuclear
issue
As there is still room in resolving the Iran nuclear issue
within the framework of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), China hopes
the international community regains trust in Iran, Qin said.
"China supports the negotiations between Russia and Iran
and hopes they will bear fruit," said Qin at a regular press conference, adding
that China hopes Iran will reinstate the suspension of activities related to
uranium enrichment.
"China also hopes Iran will cooperate in a comprehensive
way with the IAEA and clarify the open questions in its nuclear program, to
create condition for properly resolving the nuclear issue through negotiations,"
said Qin.
He said China will continue to keep contacts with all
sides and make diplomatic efforts to help resolve the Iran nuclear issue with
the framework of IAEA.
The IAEA will hold a board meeting on March 6. Qin said
China hopes that the meeting will be helpful for the realization of the above
goals. Enditem
