China resolutely opposes a US report criticizing China's human rights situation, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao at a routine news briefing Tuesday in Beijing.
In the report titled "Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: the US Record 2003-2004" published by the US State Department, the United States rebukes the human rights situations in 101 countries and regions, including China, and summarizes the US efforts to promote the human rights in these areas.
Noting that the document reprimands the Chinese government without any reason and portrays China's human rights situation in a negative light, Liu said "China is in firm opposition to that."
The Chinese government has exerted its utmost to promote and protect human rights and the people's fundamental freedom, and persevered in wielding political power for the people and implementing the people-oriented ideology, said Liu, adding that China has made obvious progress in the sphere of human rights.
China advises the United States to do more to look into its own problems and think more of how to improve its own human rights situation, as it is important for the American side to know its own imitations and to refrain from meddling in the domestic affairs of other countries under the pretext of human rights, the spokesman said.
China opposes US sending delegation to Taiwan for May 20 inauguration
Liu expressed China's opposition to the United States sending a delegation to the Taiwan leader's inauguration on May 20.
By dispatching a delegation to attend the inauguration, the United States is sending a wrong signal to the Taiwan authority, and that will hamper the stability across the Taiwan Straits, Liu said.
"China has lodged a solemn representation to the US side," Liu said.
Reports said the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) announced that a US delegation led by Jim Leach, chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs for the Committee on International Relations of the House of Representatives, would attend the May 20 inauguration and the AIT also said no governmentofficials were involved in the delegation.
Liu urged the US side to keep its promise of abiding by the one-China policy and the three Sino-US joint communiques, opposing "Taiwan independence" and the Taiwan authority's unilateral attemptto change the status quo across the Taiwan Straits and its moving toward "Taiwan independence".
"We also urge the US side to handle the Taiwan issue properly and refrain from doing anything that may harm China-US relations and damage the peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits," he said.
China supports Japan-DPRK contacts
China has always been supporting Japan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to increase contacts, promote their relations and settle the disputes existing between them, said the spokesman.
Liu made the remark in response to a question on Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's imminent visit to the DPRK.
The proper settlement of Japan-DPRK disputes and the improvement of bilateral relations are conducive to the peace and stability in the region, said Liu at a regular news conference.
"China's attitude in support of their contacts remain unchanged," noted Liu.
A ranking Japanese cabinet official announced on the afternoon of May 14 that Prime Minister Koizumi would visit the DPRK on May 22 and hold a summit with DPRK leader Kim Jong Il.
Working group meeting of six-party talks attains goals
The first working group meeting of the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue achieved the expected goals, said Liu.
Liu said at a regular press conference that the meeting was held in a candid, practical and constructive manner, and was helpful for the concerned parties to deepen their mutual understanding.
Liu said the conducive discussions made by all the parties, with a purpose to solve the nuclear issue, provided a basis for promoting the peace talks process.
The launching of the working group itself was an important progress, Liu said, adding that the working group meeting achievedthe expected goals in such issues as the reconfirmation of the consensus made in the second round of six-party talks, the in-depth discussions on nuclear abandonment, security guarantee, nuclear freezing and counter measures, and the proposal of some new ideas and plans.
Liu reiterated that the specific date of the next round of six-party talks is still not set yet, and all the concerned parties would continue to make consultations on this issue.
Delegates from China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea,the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan gathered here from May 12 to May 15 for the first working group meeting.
China hopes oil pipeline agreement with Kazakhstan to be implemented soon
The spokesman said that China hopes the agreement between China and Kazakhstan on oil pipeline construction will be implemented quickly.
The agreement is an important result of Kazakh President Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev's state visit to China, and is also a key component of China-Kazakhstan comprehensive cooperative relations.
"China is glad that the two sides have reached such an agreement," Liu said.
On Monday, China and Kazakhstan signed a framework agreement topave the way for full-range cooperation in oil and natural gas.
Specific content of the oil and natural gas cooperation agreement was not released, but a joint statement issued following the formal talks between the two heads of state said that to expand and deepen cooperation in areas of oil and natural gas is of strategic importance to the economic development of the two countries.
"The two sides will work together to finish the Atasu-Alataw Pass oil pipeline as soon as possible, and implement relevant oil development projects," the statement said.
China hope India and Pakistan can maintain their momentum for improving bilateral relations, Liu said.
In response to a question pertaining the future India-Pakistan relations after the formation of the new Indian government, Liu told a routine news briefing that India and Pakistan are very important countries in south Asia, and how their relations develop will have a direct impact on peace, stability and development in the region.
For a remarkable period of time, the relations between the twosouth Asian nations have been improving and developing effectively, Liu acknowledged, adding that China hopes that the two countries could live in harmony, while making due a contribution to peace, stability and development in the region.
It is reported that the Indian Congress Party president Sonia Gandhi would possibly be appointed next Indian prime minister by the Indian president shortly.
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