China said on Tuesday that a draft UN resolution pressing for sanctions over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) missile test is an overreaction.

 

"China thinks the concerned draft resolution is an overreaction. If approved, it will escalate the contradictions and increase tension," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular press briefing on Tuesday.

 

"The draft resolution will harm the peace and stability in the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asian region and hurt efforts to resume the six-party talks and split the UN Security Council," Jiang added. "The draft resolution requires a substantial revision."

 

"China is gravely concerned about the current situation and supports the proper reaction from the UN Security Council."

 

Japan formally presented a draft resolution on Friday, seeking sanctions against the DPRK. The draft, co-sponsored by Britain, France and the US, invokes Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which authorizes sanctions or even military action.

 

China cannot accept any measure which is an overreaction or that could lead to a worsened situation, Jiang said.

 

However, she added: "It is proper for the UN Security Council to pass a presidential statement which sends a clear and strong signal."

 

China would like to work with the parties concerned to resume the six-party talks as soon as possible.

 

The last round of six-party talks, involving China, the DPRK, the US, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan, ended with a Chairman's Statement, in which the parties agreed to resume talks as soon as possible.

 

As the tense situation on the Korean Peninsula has prolonged for more than five decades, it is impossible to resolve the issue through one or two visits, Jiang said.

 

"Diplomatic efforts take time, thus all parties should be patient and play constructive roles," she added.

China on Monday introduced a draft UN Security Council presidential statement on Pyongyang's missile launch, calling for the concerned parties to work together on the early resumption of the six-party talks.

 

US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill headed back to Beijing on Tuesday afternoon after talks with officials of the Republic of Korea and Japan, following Pyongyang's missile tests last week.

 

"The Chinese government has an important diplomatic mission going on, so we want to be in close consultation with the Chinese government," Hill said.

 

According to Jiang, China is still working on Hill's meeting schedules in Beijing.

 

This is Hill's second visit to Beijing within a week. Last Friday, he discussed with Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing how to break the Korean nuclear deadlock.

 

Turning to the new Mexican government, Jiang said China will enhance strategic partnership with it.

 

China has always attached great importance to Sino-Mexican relations and will make concerted efforts to strengthen strategic partnership between the two countries.

 

Felipe Calderon, candidate for the ruling National Action Party (PAN), has won the Mexican presidential elections, the Federal Electoral Institute announced on July 6.

 

However, Calderon was not immediately declared president-elect, and the Federal Electoral Tribunal has until September 6 to officially declare who will replace outgoing President Vicente Fox.

 

In another development, Jiang said that at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Hu Jintao will attend the outreach session of the G8 Summit on July 17.

 

This G8 Summit will be held in St. Petersburg, Russia. Jiang said, adding that the session will discuss energy security, prevention and control of epidemic diseases, education, African development and other topics.

 

Before the summit, Hu will also hold a group meeting on July 16 with leaders from India, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico and the Republic of Congo, in which they will exchange views on issues of mutual interest, Jiang said.

 

Jiang also announced that Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Nam Hong will pay an official visit to China from July 13 to 16, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Li.

 

Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf will pay a state visit to China from July 17 to 22, at Hu's invitation.

 

Jiang also said the replica of the legendary 18th Century Swedish merchant ship Gotheborg is due to arrive in South China's Guangdong Province on July 17 to coincide with the Swedish King's arrival.

 

The Gotheborg is a symbol of 260 years of friendly relations between Sweden and China, and would promote further exchanges between the two countries.

 

The ship departed from the Swedish city of Gothenburg in October last year for China to retrace the 1745 voyage of the original three-mast East Indiaman vessel before it mysteriously sank off Sweden's coast with a cargo of Chinese porcelain, silk and tea.

 

The original Gotheborg made three voyages from Gothenburg to Guangzhou between 1743 and 1745, pioneering trade between Sweden and China.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2006)