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Li Slams US Plan for Missile Shield
Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, has reiterated China's serious concern over the United States developing a National Missile Defence (NMD) system.
Li told United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan Wednesday (Beijing time) that the US attempt to develop and deploy the NMD system will dramatically change global and regional strategic balance and stability.
The United States possesses the largest and most advanced nuclear and conventional arms arsenal. It has decided again to spend heavily to develop the NMD and the Theatre Missile Defence system, Li said.
He added this runs counter to the current trend and undermines international arms control and disarmament efforts.
Annan agreed. He also said the UN will adhere to the one-China principle.
He closely follows developments in relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, said Annan, who was briefed by Li on latest cross-Straits developments.
Li also said China is now strengthening its democratic and legal construction in line with its strategy of rule by the law, and has made great progress in legislation.
He said it is a mistake to see China as only implementing economic reform and not political reform. The two progress simultaneously and the development of a democratic,legal system is an important part of political reform, Li said.
Different countries have different social system and national conditions. Therefore, it is natural that they choose different forms of democracy, Li said.
Regrading the UN,Li said the UN's authority must be respected, and no international or regional organization should try to skirt the UN when coping with issues with international ramifications.
As multipolarization and economic globalization continue, China will also continue to support the goals of the UN Charter and defend the authority of the United Nations.
Li is in New York for the millennium conference of national parliament speakers of the Inter-Parliamentary Union that begins today (Beijing time) at the UN headquarters.
Li also met with Inter-Parliamentary Union President Najma Heputulla, saying the millennium meeting allows national parliament speakers to exchange views and seek common ground while putting aside differences.
Meanwhile,the United States has refused to grant entry visas to the Cuban delegation, headed by its parliament speaker.
Li said every parliament speaker is entitled to participate in all meetings and special conferences of the union. Li and Heputulla said they fear the visas were denied for unjustifiable reasons.
Earlier in the day, Li met with Inter-Parliamentary Union Secretary-General Anders Johnsson and Lee Man-sup, speaker of the Korean National Assembly.
Li stressed the three principles for international co-operation when he met Lee.
The principles are: All countries, big or small, are equal; each country shall decide on its own how to develop; and sovereignty is inviolable and interference in the internal affairs of other countries should not be tolerated.
Li said he hopes the principles will win widespread recognition at the millennium meeting. (Chinadaily)
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