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

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