China on Thursday welcomed the Russian parliament's recent approval of the Kyoto Protocol. At yesterday's routine news briefing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue hailed it a "step forward" for Russia to become a member of the protocol.

The protocol is an important document in the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, providing a legal basis for the international committee to address climate change, Zhang said.

"We hope those countries that haven't approved the protocol will ratify the document as soon as possible so that the international community can implement practical measures to handle the issue of climate change," she said.

In another issue, the spokeswoman reiterated China would punish snakeheads who organized illegal incursions into foreign schools or diplomatic compounds.

Zhang said both the organizers and the immigrants will be dealt with according to domestic law, international law and humanitarian principles.

On October 26, Chinese police arrested 62 illegal migrants, including two foreign organizers, who tried to break into a school in a suburb of Beijing.

"China, like any other country in the world, will show zero tolerance for these kinds of activities. China will punish the organizers according to the law as well as combat illegal immigration," she said.

A spate of break-ins have taken place over the last couple of days, in which groups of illegal immigrants have tried to climb over fences into embassies and foreign schools, Zhang said.

On six-party talks, China hopes all sides involved will adopt flexible and sincere attitudes to push forward the next round of talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue as soon as possible, Zhang said.

She said solving the nuclear issue through peaceful dialogue is in the interests of all parties concerned.

Turning to the Sino-US ties, the spokeswoman said solving the Taiwan question is the key to the steady development of bilateral relations. 

Zhang said US Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed the Taiwan question during his recent visit to China.

She said China hopes the United States will adhere to the one-China principle and the three communiqués between the two countries.

China is calling the United States not to send any wrong signals to Taiwan separatists. 

Also at yesterday's briefing, the spokeswoman announced that Meles Zenawi, prime minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, will pay an official visit to China from October 31 at the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

(Sources including China Daily, CRI.com, and Xinhua News Agency, October 29, 2004)