China denies donation to US Senator Kerry
By Jiang Zhuqing (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-02-19 23:22

China Thursday rebutted reports that US Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry received political contributions from Chinese military intelligence departments in 1996 as "sheer fabrications."

"Just as I have said many times, such reports are sheer fabrications, not worth refuting," said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue during the ministry's regular briefing Thursday.

US media recently reported that Kerry was suspected of accepting political contributions from China in 1996. The Democratic front-runner then denied the reports.

Zhang also dismissed reports that US may continue to sell advanced weapons to Taiwan and raise the level of relations with the island.

That, said Zhang, would break the US promise of abiding by the one-China policy and the principles set by the three joint communiques.

While the Taiwan question remains at the core of Sino-US relations, Zhang said China hopes the US side will keep its promises without sending wrong signals to Taiwan.

When asked to comment the peace talk between India and Pakistan in Islamabad on February 16-18, Zhang said China is glad to see that the two nations have achieved positive results during their first round of talk.

The two sides have fixed the main agenda for an all-round talk as well as reached consensus to resolving disputes through peaceful ways, she said.

"China welcomes and supports the talk because it proves a solid step for further reconciliation of the bilateral ties,'' Zhang said.

China hopes the two sides to continue dialogue and make more efforts to help keep peace and development in the region, she said.

Commenting on Chinese companies' investment in Iran, the spokeswoman said China is willing to work with Iran in various areas, including energy.

The two governments have signed a framework agreement for energy co-operation, under which companies from the two can conduct business, she noted.

China holds that all countries should treat each other on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence and other international laws, but does not support using such appellation as "axis of evil" when addressing some countries, she said.

Just six days ahead the long-expected second round of six-way talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Zhang said China hopes the talks will go smoothly and make substantial progress.

Meanwhile, she said solutions to some of the issues will depend on the concrete negotiations during the talks, which will be attended by China, the United States, Russia, Japan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Republic of Korea in Beijing next week.

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