The Chinese government strongly condemns the recent terrorist
attacks occurred in Russia, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kong
Quan in Beijing Thursday.
Kong made the remarks at a regular press conference.
About 400 people have been taken hostage after a group of armed
men seized a school in South Russia's North Ossetia on Wednesday
morning and nine people -- eight civilians and one soldier - have
died in the incident.
Recent terrorist explosions in Moscow, capital of Russia, have
also caused heavy casualties.
"Terrorism is our common enemy," said Kong, adding that there is
still a long way to go in the fight against terrorism.
The Chinese government reiterates to firmly support the Russian
government's all efforts in its strike against terrorism, Kong
said.
Also at Thursday's press conference, Kong Quan made the
announcement that at the invitation of Foreign Minister of Saudi
Arabia Saud Al-Faisal Bin Abdul-Aziz, Foreign Minister of Yemen Abu
Bakr Abdullah Al-Kurbi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of
Oman Yousef Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah, Foreign Minister of Egypt Ahmed
Ali Aboul Gheit and Secretary General of the League of Arab States
Amr Mahmoud Moussa, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will visit
the four countries from September 6 to14 and attend the first
session of the Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on Cooperation
between China and Arab States.
During his visit to Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman and Egypt, Li will
exchange views with the leaders of the four countries on bilateral
relations and regional situation, Kong said.
Li will also meet with Abdul Rahman Al-Attiya, secretary general
of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States in the Gulf, in
Saudi Arabia, Kong said.
At the first session of the Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on
Cooperation between China and Arab States, Li will discuss with the
foreign ministers of Arab states and Secretary General Moussa on
the development of China-Arab relations and the Forum on
Cooperation between China and Arab States in the new era, Kong
said.
In addition, China and the Arab States will sign documents on
the forum, he said.
Kong Quan also made the announcement at Thursday's press
conference that at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao,
President of the Gabonese Republic El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba will
pay a state visit to China from September 7 to12.
(Xinhua News Agency September 3, 2004)
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