Building on recent efforts to demonstrate its non-proliferation credentials, China has reiterated its desire to join an influential export control group, the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).

The body's Chairman, Carlos Sersale di Cerisano, said the regime will actively consider China's application, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao.

The 33-nation group, founded in 1987 by the G7 countries in Rome, held a round of talks with China this week in Beijing, Liu said at yesterday's regular news conference.

"Both sides believe that the two rounds of talks are of great significance to promoting mutual trust and understanding between China and the MTCR and international co-operation in the field of non-proliferation," said Liu.

China had a first round of consultations on its joining the regime with representatives of MTCR in Paris in January.

The MTCR includes major nations such as the United States, Britain, Russia, Japan, Italy, France and the Ukraine.

Two more rounds of talks are scheduled this year between the group and China to clear up "old differences" and to evaluate Chinese export controls to see if they conform with MTCR standards, sources said.

All current regime members would need to approve China's accession into the regime.

During his term as the MTCR's rotating chairman from September 2002 to September 2003, Mariusz Handzlik invited Beijing's participation in the group.

China sent a letter to the MTCR chairman last September indicating it was "ready to positively consider applying for joining the MTCR."

(HK Edition 06/04/2004 page1)