FM: No US advice needed on HK
By Qin Chuan (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-03-12 00:03

Hong Kong issues are China's internal affairs and no external intervention is needed, the Foreign Ministry stated Thursday.

The Chinese Government and people have the determination, ability and wisdom to maintain peace and stability of Hong Kong, said a spokesperson with the ministry, and needs no advice from outside influences.

The ministry's statement was in response to US Senator Sam Brownback's recent claim in the Asian Wall Street Journal that the Hong Kong issue is not a purely internal affair of China.

His remark came after Martin Lee and other two members of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Legislative Council participating in a US Senate hearing on the issue of democracy in Hong Kong last week.

The senator's remark only shows his lack of understanding of Hong Kong's history and current situation, the spokesperson said.

"We do not need any external intervention and intervention will do no good to any side,'' the spokesperson said.

In another development, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said Thursday that China is willing to strengthen co-operation with the Afghani side in fields like policing and relevant departments of the two sides are holding talks on co-operations in such regards.

While currently there is a policeman working in Afghanistan, Liu said there is no more information about future co-operation.

He reiterated that China has been supporting and taking part in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Turning to EU official Javier Solana's visit to China during March 16 and 17, Liu said Premier Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will meet with Solana and they will exchange views on regional and international issues, including the nuclear issue of Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Solana is secretary-general of the Council of the European Union and high representative for the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy.

Liu said the EU has not showed intention to the Chinese side for participating in multilateral talks on the DPRK's nuclear issue.

But China appreciates the EU's efforts in helping make the second round of six-party talks happen and its efforts to push the issue to a peaceful solution, he said.

China hopes that the nuclear issue can be solved soon through dialogue and diplomacy while the security concerns of the DPRK are resolved, he said, adding that such progress requires patience.