 |
FM Spokesman on China-US Arms Control Consultation
China and the United States ended two days of consultation on arms control and anti-proliferation in Beijing on Saturday, during which they had a "comprehensive, in-depth and frank" exchange of views on a number of related issues, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Sun Yuxi said.
This remark followed the consultation between Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Guangya and the U.S. special adviser to the president and under secretary of state for arms control and international security affairs, John Holum.
Sun said that both sides believed that the two countries have had good cooperation, and made important progress in the areas of arms control and anti-proliferation in the past ten years, especially during the Clinton administration, thus playing a positive role in maintaining international and regional peace and security, as well as promoting the development of Sino-US relations.
The Chinese side comprehensively expounded its stance on the US missile defense program, stressing the importance and necessity of safeguarding and strictly observing the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) treaty, and expressing serious concerns about the negative impact exerted by the U.S. development of the National Missile Defense (NMD) program and the U.S.-Japanese joint research and development of the Theater Missile Defense (TMD), Sun said, adding that China has again voiced its firm opposition to arms sales to Taiwan by any country, including providing Taiwan with TMD-related assistance and a TMD shield.
Both sides agreed that the two countries have a number of common stances and interests in the areas of arms control and anti-proliferation, and at the same time some disagreement; and the consultations were constructive and promoted mutual understanding, Sun said.
Both sides agreed that they would persist with such consultations on the basis of equality, mutual trust and considering each other's concerns, he said.
During Holum's stay in Beijing, Liu Huaqiu, minister in charge of the Central Foreign Affairs Office, Xiong Guangkai, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Jiechi also met with him on separate occasions.
In This Section
|