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China, US Anti-terrorism Experts to Meet: Powell
US and Chinese intelligence experts will meet next week to discuss co-operating against terrorism, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said after talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan.
But details on the two sides' cooperation in fighting against terrorism have not come up. Powell said he did not ask Mr Tang how China would react to a US military operation.
The most likely initial targets would be in Afghanistan, from where prime suspect Osama bin Laden has been living. China and Afghanistan have a short stretch of common border.
''It [China] has influence in that region. It has knowledge and information. It has intelligence that might be of help to us, and our counterterrorism experts will be getting together next week to explore every way in which the two sides can co-operate,'' Mr Powell said.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the talks would start in Washington on Tuesday. State Department counterterrorism expert Frank Taylor will have a preliminary meeting with Chinese officials on Friday, he added.
The United States is seeking allies to launch a campaign against Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda organisation if the Taliban, who rule Afghanistan, do not hand over him and his followers.
Asked whether Mr Tang had mentioned military action, Mr Powell said: ''I made the point to the foreign minister that we would be looking at a complete campaign that would involve going after finances, information, intelligence and law enforcement.
It might have a military component.
''But we did not get into any details of the military component, nor did I ask the Chinese government what their reaction might be, nor did they suggest to me any participation. It just didn't come up.''
Source: chinadaily.com.cn
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