Beijing has reiterated its refusal to associate Islam with terrorism, a senior Chinese government official said in Cairo yesterday.
Official spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Liu Jianchao, who is currently on a visit to Egypt, said his country would not approve of associating acts of terrorism with any religion or ethnic group."There are more than 20 million Chinese Muslims who have excellent relations with their compatriots, and some hold top government posts," Liu said.
China has suffered from terror attacks carried out by Muslim separatists, who had received military training and financial assistance from the Afghanistan-based Al Qaeda and Taliban groups, Liu added.
While China accepts religious freedom, it rejects terrorism and separatism, he said, adding that terrorism is a common enemy, which the whole world community must fight and eradicate.
Egypt was a forerunner in warning the world community against the dangers of terrorism and exerting serious efforts to combat it, he said.
On bilateral economic and trade ties, Liu said that the Beijing government was encouraging Chinese companies to enhance investment in Egypt, where conditions are favourable for attracting foreign capital.China is opting for greater economic cooperation with Egypt now that the two countries enjoy strong political relations, he said.
Concerning the Middle East, the Chinese official said that Beijing wanted the swift resumption of peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
China supports the Palestinian rights through efforts at the UN Security Council, Liu said, noting that his country wants the UN to assume a bigger role in the post-war Iraq , especially that his country, along with France, Germany and Russia had opposed launching a war against it.
Liu also criticised US forces for abusing Iraqi prisoners at Baghdad's Abu Gharib prison.
from Egyptian Gazette May,5,2004 http://www.eltahrir.net/
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