Search China Travel News:

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue Thursday affirmed the Chinese government's stance that Iraq's reconstruction and other post-war issues have to be dealt with in accordance with the tenet and principles of the United Nations Charter. Zhang said the UN Security Council was deliberating the arrangements of post-war Iraq and that positive progress has been made on some specific issues. The Chinese side had adopted a constructive attitude in participating in the consultations, she said. Zhang said China hoped that developments in post-war Iraq would proceed from the principles of peace and stability in the Gulf region and the Middle East. The arrangements must be devoted to the long-term development and stability of Iraq and the long-term interest of the Iraqi people, the spokeswoman said. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and US Secretary of State Colin Powell exchanged views on Iraq's post-war reconstruction during a phone conversation Wednesday evening, said Zhang. Li stressed that the Iraq issue should be handled in line with the tenet and principles of the UN Charter. China hopes that the UN draft will adopt the opinions of the majority of the countries to achieve an early start of Iraq's reconstruction, the spokeswoman said. China Expresses Concern over Algerian Earthquake China is considering what assistance it can give Algeria in the aftermath of the strong earthquake that jolted the capital Algiers Wednesday night, the spokeswoman said. Zhang said Chinese President Hu Jintao had sent a telegram to Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, extending his sympathy and condolences to the families of quake victims and the injured. ? Eleven people working for Chinese firms had been reported injured, and one died later in hospital; another seven people were trapped under collapsed buildings, of whom two had been found dead. Chinese embassy staff and managers of Chinese firms were working with the Algerian authorities to help emergency rescue operations, she said. No casualties had been reported among staff at the Chinese embassy, reporters from Agency, or Chinese medical team members in the capital. But the ambassador's residence at the Chinese embassy had developed several cracks. The Foreign Ministry had expressed its sympathy for embassy staff and other Chinese people there. "The Chinese government is deeply concerned about the safety of Chinese citizens in Algeria. We are closely following developments there," she said. SCO Summit Not to Cover Expansion Zhang said the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Moscow will not discuss its expansion, although a number of countries -- including India and Pakistan -- hope to join. "The SCO is at an initial stage and is faced with a lot of work concerning the development of its mechanisms, therefore its members have decided not to admit new members for the time being,'' said Zhang, adding that it will follow the principle of openness and accept more members in the future. The May 29 summit will ratify a number of documents on the development of the SCO, including the mechanism of meetings of heads of states and prime ministers, the establishment of a secretariat in Beijing by the end of this year, and decide on the SCO secretary-general. China's Envoy to Middle East Hopes for Early Solution of Palestine Issue Zhang said China hopes Israel and Palestine will take practical steps in response to international peacemaking efforts and try to achieve an early solution to the Palestine issue. Wang Shijie, China's special envoy to the Middle East, met Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Palestinian National Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, and Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath. They exchanged views on the Middle East situation and the "roadmap" plan. Wang hoped that Israel and Palestine would grasp the opportunity presented by the "road map" plan and resolve the Palestine issue as early as possible under the principles of frankness and sincerity, fair and equal negotiation, mutual understanding and accommodation, and easier problems before difficult ones. Wang urged the international community to work harder on the Middle East issue and set up a just, authoritative and effective international supervision mechanism as soon as possible. He also called for an early start to a Middle East peace conference attended by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and other relevant parties. Wang also met Miguel Angel Moratinos, the European Union Middle East envoy. Both sides expressed the wish to increase consultation and coordination on the Middle East issue. China Supports Reconstruction of Afghanistan The Chinese government attaches importance to its ties with Afghanistan and supports its peace process and reconstruction, the spokeswoman said. Zhang said the Chinese government highly valued the upcoming visit by Vice-President of Afghanistan's interim government Nimartullah Shaharani. Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC), Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice-President Zeng Qihong will hold meetings with him respectively, the spokeswoman noted. The two sides will prioritize an exchange of views on the reconstruction of Afghanistan as well as on bilateral ties, she said, adding that some economic and technical cooperation documents will also be signed. Afghanistan is a neighboring country of China and China promised to donate US$150 million last year for a reservoir-rebuilding project and the construction of a Kabul state hospital. China is now preparing for the two projects, which are hoped to be conducive to the reconstruction of Afghanistan and benefit its people, Zhang said. Afghani Vice-President Shaharani will visit China from May 26 to 30 as Chinese Vice-President Zeng's guest. Besides Beijing, he will travel to Shanghai. China Congratulates New WHO Director-general China congratulated Dr. Jong-Wook Lee of the Republic of Korea on his election as the new director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), said the spokeswoman. Zhang said Lee has rich professional knowledge and administrative experience. She expressed her belief that the WHO will make more contributions to global health work under his leadership. China is willing to strengthen cooperation with the WHO in various fields, she said. Lee was elected WHO director-general on Wednesday at the 56th World Health Assembly. China, Switzerland to Discuss DPRK Nuclear Issue and Bilateral Ties Micheline Calmy-Ray, Swiss Federal Councilor and head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, will confer with Chinese officials on the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and bilateral ties during her visit to China, said the spokeswoman. China attaches great importance to Calmy-Ray's visit, Zhang said, noting that Premier Wen Jiabao, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing are expected to meet and confer with the Swiss federal councilor and her party. Right after her just-ended trip to the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the DPRK nuclear question would be the issue to be discussed by the Chinese and Swiss sides. Micheline Calmy-Ray will begin her visit to China on Friday.