Spokesman confident of Sino-US relations
( 2002-01-23 00:43 ) (1 )

File photo: Boeing 767-300

China said Tuesday it sees no impact on other China-US issues as a result of the reported discovery of bugging devices on President Jiang Zemin's US-built special airplane.

When asked if the affair would affect US President George W. Bush's visit to China next month, Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi said: "I have heard about this,but so far I have no knowledge of it and don't see any impact of this event on other issues.'' It was reported that a series of "bugs" had been discovered after the US-made Boeing 767-300ER was delivered from the United States. At present, both Beijing and Washington have yet to make any official comments.

"China is a peace-loving country and constitutes no threat to anyone, so it is of no use to bug China,'' Sun said.

Earlier this month, the Foreign Ministryspokesman Sun Yuxi expressed confidence about future Sino-US relations.

After the September 11 attacks, the relations between China and the United States have been "greatly enhanced,'' and the two maintained close ties on anti-terrorism affairs, said Sun at a regular briefing early this month, adding he believed Bush's upcoming visit would yield more positive fruits.

Commenting on reports that some Uygurs have been arrested in the Afghanistan war, Sun indicated that these Uygurs are "indeed Eastern Turkestan terrorists who have close ties with international terrorists associations.''

"If they (arrested Uygurs) are Chinese citizens, we maintain that the relevant side should hand them over to China for handling in accordance with the law,'' Sun said.

East Turkestan elements who have resorted to terrorism in the hope of establishing an independent state in Xinjiang, have been running rampant in recent years.

The Chinese Government has confirmed that several hundred Uyghur separatists had been to Afghanistan for training in camps linked to Osama bin Ladenand that some were still in Afghanistan. Several separatist organizations have links with international terrorist groups and have carried out terrorist attacks in and outside China.

"China will continue to oppose terrorism in all forms, no matter where and when terrorism happens, and will co-operate with the international community to fight it,'' Sun said.

Tuesday, the spokesman also confirmed that Wang Xuebing, the former president of the Bank of China (BOC), who was recently dismissed from his post as president of the China Construction Bank, was responsible for illegal loan operations in some BOC branches.

Wang had served as president of the BOC for seven years before taking the helm of the China Construction Bank.

As for the investigation of misconduct at the New York branch of the BOC, Sun said the bank has attached great importance to the case and has carried out a series of remedies to stamp out further irregularities.

"The bank will strengthen supervision and management over its home and overseas branches and continue to provide quality service to customers in line with its principle of consistent cautious management,'' Sun said.