BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will hold the summit meeting on June 15 in Shanghai.

    Heads of state of the six SCO member countries will attend the summit meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular press conference on Thursday.

    The member countries have agreed to invite the observers as well as those countries and international organizations which have established cooperative relations with the SCO to the summit, Liu said.

    In 2004 and 2005, the SCO accepted Mongolia, Iran, Indonesia and India as observers.

    The organization has also set up official links with many international organizations, including the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

    Answering a question about Iran's attendee, Liu said the representative of the country will be decided by Iran itself.

    According to the spokesman, the summit will review and sum up the achievements and experience of the organization since the SCO was established five years ago.

    The meeting will also fix on the organization's development orientation and measures in future, Liu said.

    Established in 2001, the SCO now groups China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

No Chinese military, technological intelligence activities in US

    The allegation of China's military and technological intelligence activities in the United States is "groundless", Liu Jianchao said.

    Liu said, in response to a reporter's question at a routine press conference, China has strict supervisory rules and procedures concerning the importation of military equipment.

    "Chinese military importers never buy any equipment from a supplier who fails to provide legal documents", the spokesman said.

US Assistant Secretary of State to visit China for six-party talks

    U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill will visit China from May 24 to 25.

    This was revealed by a source with Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

    During his stay, Hill, also the U.S. chief negotiator for the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue, will exchange views with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei on the six-party talks.

    The six-party talks are now facing some difficulties. Parties concerned need to take flexible and pragmatic attitudes, use political wisdom and remove obstacles to make the talks resume at an early date and make continued progress, said Liu Jianchao.

    The six-party talks, composing China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United Sates, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and Japan, has been in a standoff since the last session of the talks ended last September.

    The DPRK accused the United States of conducting economic sanctions against it and set the lift of the sanctions as a precondition for the talks.

East Timor president to visit China

    East Timor President Xanana Gusmao will pay a state visit to China from May 29 to June 3 at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Liu Jianchao said.

China to strengthen consular protection of overseas citizens

    China will strengthen consular protection of its overseas organizations and citizens, said Liu Jianchao.

    Liu made the remarks in response to a question concerning China's preparations for emergency cases such as the recent unrest in the Solomon Islands last month.

    The foreign ministry has done a lot of research on its consular protection, Liu said, adding that an emergency mechanism has been set up to help the overseas Chinese who need consular protection.

    The foreign ministry has gained much experience in practical work over the past years, Liu said. It will try its best help overseas Chinese organizations and citizens, he added.

China's efforts to battle SARS should be viewed fairly, objectively

    A Foreign Ministry spokesman voiced his hope here Thursday that China's efforts to combat SARS should be appreciated fairly and objectively by various parties including the World Health Organization (WHO).

    Liu Jianchao made the remark in response to a reporter's question. He said the Chinese government and people demonstrated their resolve, solidarity and strong sense of responsibility during the fight against the disease, which was barely known to the humankind then.

    The Chinese government not only successfully eliminated the SARS within China's territory and safeguarded the life and health of its people, but forged a good exchange of experience and cooperation on the joint campaign against the SARS with other countries and international organizations such as the WHO, Liu recalled.

    "On such a vital issue, I hope China's efforts could be fairly and objectively appreciated by the various parties including the WHO," the spokesman said. Enditem