China values the role the Group of Eight (G8) has played in international affairs and would like to maintain dialogue and exchanges with it, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kong Quan on Thursday. 

Kong told a regular press conference that China is considering an invitation to attend the G8 summit, which is to be held in the UK in July.

"We hold a positive attitude towards dialogue on international issues with the G8," he said.

The G8 comprises France, Germany, the UK, Italy, the US, Japan, Canada and Russia. President Hu Jintao attended the informal South-North dialogue meeting in France in June 2003.

Commenting on an Indian report that says the US will sell an anti-ballistic missile system to India, Kong said the nuclear arms race in South Asia is not in line with the interests of any country.

He said, "We hope the relevant countries properly handle the situation and are committed to safeguarding stability, peace and development in Asia, especially South Asia."

He said China welcomes recent negotiations between India and Pakistan and hopes to work with them to safeguard stability in that region.

Commenting on Bill Clinton's planned visit to Taiwan this weekend and his meeting with Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian, Kong said as a former US president and an influential politician he should know China's firm position on the Taiwan issue.

Clinton should abide by the one-China policy and the three joint communiqués and oppose "Taiwan independence," said Kong.

Turning to the Korean Peninsula nuclear standoff, Kong urged all concerned parties once again to make efforts to resume six-party talks.

He said China has been in close contact with the other five parties. Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing exchanged views on the latest developments with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a phone conversation on Tuesday night.

Chinese Ambassador for Korean Peninsula Affairs Ning Fukui also met on Tuesday and Wednesday with Russian Ambassador Igor Rogachev, South Korean Ambassador Kim Ha-joong and Japanese Ambassador Koreshige Anami.

According to Kong, the Chinese side said again during these meetings that it hopes all parties stick to the goal of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and strive to safeguard peace and stability there.

China hopes all parties show sincerity and flexibility to work positively and constructively for the restart of six-party talks, he said.

Kong said China and Vanuatu will sign a joint communiqué and economic and technological agreements during Vanuatuan Prime Minister Ham Lini's visit.

President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and other senior officials will meet with Lini during his stay in Beijing. He arrived on Thursday for an official visit lasting until March 4.

Kong announced that at the invitation of Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Nikolaevich Martynov will visit from March 2 to 5; and Minister of Communications Zhang Chunxian will attend the handover ceremony of the presidency of Uruguay as China's special envoy in Montevideo on March 1.

(Xinhua News Agency, CRI.com February 25, 2005)