China Tuesday asked the United States not to send the "wrong
signal" to terrorist forces operating in western China in its
handling of Chinese detainees at the US base at the Guantanamo Bay
in Cuba.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan made the remarks
when asked to comment on a report that the United States will not
send those suspects back to China and was striving to find
destination for them elsewhere.
The spokesman asked the United States to handle the issue
according to international rules and with a view toward
international anti-terrorism cooperation and bilateral ties.
The terrorists, who call themselves "East Turkistan," are part
of the international terrorist forces and pose a vital threat to
people's life and property safety worldwide, including in China and
the United States as well, Kong said.
Listed as a terrorist group by the UN Security Council, the
"East Turkistan" force has staged more than 260 attacks inside
western China's Xinjiang
Uygur Autonomous Region, in which 162 people of different
nationalities have been killed and more than 440 wounded.
The group is colluding with al-Qaeda, Taliban remnants, Chechen
terrorist groups and other international terrorist organizations,
the Chinese Ministry of Public Security said.
The United States has detained about 700 suspects of al-Qaeda
and Taliban remnants from over 40 countries worldwide.
Most of them were caught in the US-led war in Afghanistan. Some
of them had been handed over to their homeland governments.
In another development, Kong said the Chinese government will
offer another 5 million yuan (US$610,000) worth of humanitarian aid
to the troubled Darfur region of Sudan.
Kong said that China's Special Envoy and Assistant Foreign
Minister Lu Guozeng promised the Sudanese government the aid during
his recent two-day visit to Sudan.
During the visit, Lu met with Sudanese President Omar Hassan
Ahmed El-Bashir, delivered a letter from Chinese President Hu
Jintao and held talks with Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Othman
Ismail.
Lu conveyed the Chinese government's high attention to the
Darfur situation, appreciating the efforts made by the Sudanese
government, African Union and League of Arab States in solving the
issue.
China hopes the Sudanese government will spare no efforts in
continuously implementing relevant UN Security Council resolutions
and easing the situation at an early date, Lu said.
The Sudanese side appreciated China's efforts in settling the
Darfur problem and promised to try its best, with the joint efforts
from the United Nations and the African Union, to settle the
question at an early date.
Located in western Sudan, Darfur is considered the site of the
worst humanitarian crisis by the United Nations.
The region has witnessed an 18-month conflict with over 10,000
people killed and 1 million people displaced.
The UN Security Council passed a resolution on July 30, giving
the Sudanese government 30 days to disarm the local armed forces or
face international sanctions.
In response to questions on the Venezuela referendum, the
spokesman said China respects the Venezuelan people's efforts in
choosing a national destiny within the framework of their
constitution and is glad for the smooth operation of the
referendum.
Venezuela's National Election Council released the referendum
results Monday morning, which showed that President Hugo Chavez had
survived the referendum to recall him, with 58.25 percent of the
electorate voting for him to remain in office and 41.74 percent
voting against.
Kong said China believes that under the leadership of President
Chavez, the Venezuelan people will continue to make new
achievements in their efforts of maintaining national stability and
economic development.
China and Venezuela are friends and China has always attached
great importance to the relations with Venezuela, Kong said. "China
is willing to join with Venezuela to push forward the bilateral
friendly and cooperative relations."
The spokesman also?announced that Jean Ping, Gabonese
minister of state and minister of foreign affairs, cooperation and
francophone, will visit China from Aug. 22 to 27 at the invitation
of Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.
Ping is also president of the 59th Session of the General
Assembly of the United Nations. During the visit, Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao and State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan will meet with him
respectively and Li will hold talks with him.
The two sides will exchange views on the work of the 59th
Session of the UN General Assembly and regional and international
issues of common interest, Kong said.
(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2004)