FM Spokeswoman: Removal of US EP-3 Plane to be Completed

FM Spokeswoman: Removal of US EP-3 Plane to be Completed

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The disassembly and removal of the US EP-3 spy plane will be completed soon, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue Tuesday afternoon.

Zhang told a regular press conference that according to the agreement reached by the Chinese and US sides, the US EP-3 spy plane was to be disassembled and removed from Hainan, and at present, the relevant work is close to an end.

On Sino-US relations, Zhang reaffirmed what Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and the US Secretary of State Colin Powell had said in a phone call in June 28.

The spokeswoman said that China is pleased to see that Sino-US ties have improved recently after experiencing difficulties previously.

China attaches importance to its relations with the US, and hopes to forge constructive and cooperative relations with the US, she said.

Both China and the US are important nations in the Asia- Pacific region, and the development of Sino-US relations is conducive to regional and world peace and stability, and benefits the peoples of the two countries as well, she said, stressing that this will result from the joint efforts of the two sides.

Zhang urged the US to observe the three Sino-US joint communiques, especially to respect Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity and the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs, so that Sino-US relations can develop on a normal course.

Dismantlement Finished

The disassembling work of the US EP-3 spy plane has been concluded and the dismantled plane has been shipped to the US via an "AN-124" cargo plane rented by the US government, Xinhua reporter learned the news from Chinese Foreign Ministry today.

All work is done "in accordance with the agreement reached between China and US", according to the ministry.

The EP-3 spy plane has been stayed at Lingshui Airport in China 's southernmost Hainan Province since it made emergency landing there April 1 after ramming into and destroyed a Chinese fighter jet.

It is learned that China and US will continue their talks on matters concerning US payment to China.

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