"It is rude interference in China's internal affairs," said Liu.

The House of Representatives approved a resolution expressing its "grave concern" about China's Anti-Secession Law, which was adopted by the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body on Monday.

"The Anti-Secession Law . . . is a law for peaceful reunification. It is not a law meant to use force toward Taiwan nor is it a war bill," said Liu.

He said the law, which has won support from the international community, would benefit peace, stability and prosperity in the region and would also benefit the steady development of Sino-US relations.

In response to a Japanese media report that Japan will stop providing new yen loans to China by the time of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Liu said the low-interest loans from Japan to China -- one portion of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans -- are capital cooperation.

He said history calls upon both countries to handle the issue properly in a spirit of responsibility toward the Sino-Japanese relationship and bilateral cooperation.

Japanese media quoted Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura as saying that Japan and China had agreed to end the loans by 2008. The Japanese Embassy in China denied knowledge of any official decision in this regard.

Japan's ODA for China includes long-term yen loans, free grants and technical assistance. Most of the aid has come in the form of yen loans.

Liu said China would be happy to work with Paul Wolfowitz if he is appointed as the next World Bank chief and called on the World Bank to keep listening to voices from developing countries.

"We believe that the World Bank, as the most important international development agency, plays a very important role in the area of aid . . . and we hope the new president will continue to promote sustainable and balanced development of the world economy," said Liu.

Vice President Zeng Qinghong and US Vice President Dick Cheney discussed Wolfowitz's nomination in a telephone conversation on Wednesday, according to the Foreign Ministry, but no details were revealed.

Turning to the upcoming visit of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, which begins on March 20, Liu said China anticipates success in discussions of Sino-US ties, talks and cooperation in international and regional affairs.

Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and other leaders are scheduled to meet with Rice during her two-day visit. It will be her first visit to China since she became the top US diplomat in January, although she has been to the country twice since 2002.

With respect to the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue, Liu said China will continue its efforts to achieve a denuclearized Korean Peninsula, but all parties must be involved if the talks are to succeed.

On Wednesday, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ruled out a return to the stalled six-party talks unless the United States retracts its description of Pyongyang as an "outpost of tyranny."

(China Daily, Xinhua News Agency, CRI.com March 18, 2005)