BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhuanet) -- China on Tuesday expressed its regret over the EU's recent failure to foot its pledge of lifting its arms sales ban to China.

    Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao made the remarks at a routine press conference when commenting on the EU's decision at a summit in Brussels earlier this month.

    The European Union (EU) summit pledged to develop a strategic partnership with China.

    "It reiterates its resolve to develop a strategic partnership with China by intensifying dialogue in all areas, whether of an economic or political nature, and by working towards a rapid solution to its trade dispute," said a conclusion document issued by the summit.

    Liu said China still hopes that the EU will materialize its pledge to lift the ban as soon as possible.

    Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn pledged last week itwould make more efforts for the early lifting of the arms embargo against China.

    Luxembourg, which is to hand over the presidency of the European Union (EU) to Britain, urged Britain to continue the efforts aiming to strike a deal on the EU code of conduct on arms exports at an EU summit in September, so as to lay down a solid road for the lifting, Asselborn told Xinhua in an exclusive interview. 

Positive signals on restarting six-party talks welcomed

    China is pleased to see positive signals emerge recently on resuming the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, and "welcomes" such signals, Liu said.

    US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said Monday in Inchon, a northwest city of the Republic of Korea (ROK), that the United States hopes the six-party talks can restart in July. His country is ready to hold talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in a respectful atmosphere.

    According to Chung Dong-young, the special envoy of ROK President Roh Moo-hyun and also South Korean Unification Minister, during his meeting with DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Il last Friday,Kim said "the DPRK is willing to return to six-party nuclear talks even in July, if the United States "recognizes and respects" Pyongyang.

    Liu said China has been pushing for the early resumption of the six-party talks, and will continue to hold consultations with the related parties on relevant issues. "As for the details of the meeting, related parties should conduct efficient communications,"he added.

    "Although there are lots of problems, China will not give up its efforts to promote the resumption of six-party talks," the spokesman said.

    He said China is committed to peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula, aiming to realize denuclearization through peaceful talks.

    China also hopes that the relevant parties will make concerted efforts, seize the present opportunities and show greater flexibility in a bid to promote the peaceful settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, he noted.

    In order to end the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue peacefully,China, the DPRK, the United States, Russia, the ROK and Japan have convened three rounds of six-party nuclear talks in Beijing. However, the fourth round of the multilateral talks failed to be convened as the DPRK refused to attend the talks, citing hostile US policy.

Proper handling of fishing disputes

    China said Tuesday that it strongly resents to Japan's driving away of Taiwan fishing boats in waters near China's Diaoyu islands, and demands Japan handle the fishing disputes prudently and properly. 

    Taiwanese fishermen said they have been repeatedly driven away by Japanese patrol boats in waters near the Diaoyu Islands, traditional fishing grounds for them. Some have even flown China's five-star national flag.

    "The Chinese Government attaches great importance to the protection of the legitimate fishing rights of China's fishermen, including those from Taiwan," Liu said at a press conference. "Their legitimate rights should not be infringed upon."

    China and Japan have signed a fishing agreement which contains stipulations on issues of fishing in relevant waters, and the two sides should follow the agreement, said the spokesman.

    The Diaoyu Islands and its adjacent waters are Chinese territories from ancient times and the waters are traditional fishing grounds for Chinese fishermen, China claims.

    China calls on Japan to attach great importance to China's concerns and handle problems relevant to the fishing disputes properly and prudently, the spokesman said.

President Hu's coming visit to Russia, Kazakhstan

    Chinese President Hu Jintao will pay a state visit to Russia and Kazakhstan, and attend the summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to be held in the Kazak capital of Astana before attending the G8 plus five summit in England, liu said.

    The spokesman, Liu Jianchao, said Hu's trip will last from June 30 to July 7. He was invited by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazak President Nursultan Nazarbayev and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

    The G8 Summit Outreach Session will be held in the United Kingdom between the G8 and leaders of China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico.

    On Hu's state visit to Russia, Liu said Hu plans to hold talks with Putin and meet with other Russian government and parliamentary leaders.

    "The aim of the current visit to Russia is to improve political trust, deepen bilateral cooperation in all fields, enhance coordination on key international and regional issues and further upgrade Sino-Russian strategic partnership," Liu said.

    The spokesman said the two countries will also "issue a political document and sign a series of cooperative documents".

Relations with Israel

    China on Tuesday defended its relations with Israel and said its cooperative relations with Israel would not harm the interests of any third party.

    Liu said at a routine press conference that the US concern on Israel's arms sales to China is "groundless".

    Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing visited Israel on Monday as part of his trip to the Middle East. The US has pressed Israel over the arms sales issue prior to Li's visit to the country.

    "China pays great attention to its mutually beneficial and cooperative relations with Israel," said Liu. "The growth of Sino-Israeli relations would serve the interests of people of both countries and conducive to regional peace and stability."

    "In developing bilateral relations, the principle of independence should be observed, and outside interfering factors should be cleared up," he stressed.

    The Chinese foreign minister is on a trip to Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Syria and Lebanon. He met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Monday.

Guatemalan minister's visit to China

    Guatemalan Minister of Economy Marcio Ronanldo Cuevas, who began his China trip Monday, has had an exchange of views with China on deepening economic relations and trade, Liu said.

    The Guatemalan minister was met Monday by Cheng Siwei, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

    Guatemala currently has no official relations with China. China said it hopes to establish normal state-to-state relations with Guatemala and other nations in the Caribbean region and Central America.

    "China reiterated that it is ready to establish normal state-to-state relations with Guatemala and other nations in Central America and the Caribbean region on the basis of the UN Charter and the five principles of co-existence," Liu said. "It would serve our long-term interests."

    Two-way trade between China and Guatemala reached 436 million US dollars last year, up 41.7 percent from the previous year.

    The Guatemalan delegation arrived here earlier Monday for a week-long visit, as guest of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

    Besides Beijing, they will also travel to Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong Province, Yichang in central China's Hubei Province, as well as the country's economic hub of Shanghai.

Czech PM's visit to China

    Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek will pay a working visit to China from June 26 to 28 at the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, according to Liu Jianchao.

Fiji PM's visit to China

    At the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister of the Republic of the Fiji Islands Laisenia Qarase will pay a working visit to China from June 25 to 30.