Chemical weapons

The Chinese government hopes to destroy abandoned wartime Japanese chemical weapons very soon, Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi said yesterday.

Wang made the remarks while meeting with Rogelio Pfirter, director-general of the Technical Secretariat of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

Wang praised the contribution made by the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) to safeguarding world peace and security, and reiterated China's support for the CWC.

Pfirter expressed appreciation for China's efforts in promoting the comprehensive and effective fulfillment of the CWC, saying the OPCW Technical Secretariat would continue taking an active part in disposing of abandoned wartime chemical weapons in China.

Vice-FM meets ROK envoy

China voiced the hope yesterday that participants in the Six-Party Talks would expand their mutual trust to carry out the second-phase actions at an early date comprehensively and in a balanced way.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang made the remarks at a regular press conference in response to a question concerning the meeting in Beijing between Kim Sook, newly-appointed delegation head of the Republic of Korea (ROK), and Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Dawei who heads the Chinese delegation.

Xinhua

(China Daily 05/14/2008 page10)