China denies N-transfer

Published March 8, 2004

BEIJING, March 7: Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing has taken a strong exception to media reports about the alleged transfer of nuclear technology to any other country.

Referring to North Korea's alleged uranium enrichment programme, Foreign Minister Li said at a news conference: "We don't have (any) such information about the alleged uranium programme of North Korea."

"(Even) if the media's information is supported by evidence, that will have nothing to do with China," the minister added. Stressing that China has always advocated a nuclear-weapon- free Korean peninsula, Mr Li said: "We don't wish to see the Korean peninsula with nuclear weapons, we wish to see (the) peninsula that is peaceful, stable and prosperous."

Li Zhaoxing at his annual news conference on Saturday contributed much of his time to talk about bilateral relations between China and its neighbouring countries.

Talking about a tension-free South Asia, he said China was "very pleased to see" that Pakistan and India were trying to improve bilateral relations. Deliberating on Sino-Russian ties, Mr Li announced that Chinese and Russian presidents would hold a summit in Beijing in the latter half of this year.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and Premier Wen Jiabao would also visit to Russia this year. Li said only when the Japanese leaders take history as a mirror and look into the future, can the friendship between China and Japan develop. -APP

Opinion

Editorial

Border clashes
19 May, 2024

Border clashes

THE Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has witnessed another series of flare-ups, this time in the Kurram tribal district...
Penalising the dutiful
19 May, 2024

Penalising the dutiful

DOES the government feel no remorse in burdening honest citizens with the cost of its own ineptitude? With the ...
Students in Kyrgyzstan
Updated 19 May, 2024

Students in Kyrgyzstan

The govt ought to take a direct approach comprising convincing communication with the students and Kyrgyz authorities.
Ominous demands
Updated 18 May, 2024

Ominous demands

The federal government needs to boost its revenues to reduce future borrowing and pay back its existing debt.
Property leaks
18 May, 2024

Property leaks

THE leaked Dubai property data reported on by media organisations around the world earlier this week seems to have...
Heat warnings
18 May, 2024

Heat warnings

STARTING next week, the country must brace for brutal heatwaves. The NDMA warns of severe conditions with...