China"has lodged serious representation" with the US side on China-related contents in the Quadrennial Defence Review(QDR), Kong Quan told a press conference.

The QDR, issued by the US Department of Defence on Feb. 3, irrationally criticized China's normal defence construction, in a move which"interferes in China's internal affairs" and could" mislead public opinion", Kong said.

According to Kong, China is taking a straight path toward peaceful development and is adopting a national defence policy of a defensive nature, thus constituting an important force to promote the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole.

"China has never threatened any country in the past and at present, and will never do so in the future," he said.

He urged the U.S. side to correct its incorrect viewpoints and actions, saying the US should"review China's peaceful development from an objective perspective and stop its random and irresponsible remarks on China's normal defence construction."

Instead, the United States"should do more to promote the healthy and steady growth of the Sino-US relations," he said.

The QDR is conducted by the US Department of Defence every four years.

Security of Chinese nationals in S. Africa

The Chinese side has urged South Africa to"take substantial measures" to protect the life and property of Chinese citizens living in the country, Kong Quan said.

Three Chinese businesspeople were killed by armed robbers in South Africa within the space of 36 hours last weekend; another one was killed earlier this year.

"The Chinese government is deeply concerned with the continual robbery cases which have caused Chinese casualties," said Kong.

He urged South African police to strengthen their investigation on the cases and to punish the criminals.

Kong also appealed to Chinese citizens in South Africa to keep alert and take necessary defensive measures.

More than 40 armed robbery cases against Chinese citizens occurred in South Africa last year, resulting in eight fatalities.

4th round of China-Japan strategic dialogue

A Chinese delegation headed by Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo will leave for Japan on Thursday to attend the fourth-round of China-Japan strategic dialogue, announced Kong Quan Tuesday.

Kong told a regular news conference that Dai Bingguo will have the dialogue with Shotaro Yachi, Japanese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, who heads the Japanese delegation.

China and Japan already held three rounds of strategic dialogue last year in May, June, October respectively.

New IAEA resolution on Iranian nuclear issue

China hopes the newly-adopted IAEA resolution will help settle the Iran nuclear issue through negotiations within the framework of the IAEA, said Kong Quan on Tuesday.

The IAEA Board of Governors voted 27-3 with five abstentions on Saturday to approve an EU-drafted resolution to report Iran's nuclear issue to the United Nations Security Council.

China voted in favor of the resolution."We believe this resolution is asking Iran to fulfill its obligations and commitments, but not transferring the IAEA's responsibility on handling the Iran nuclear issue to the UN Security Council," said Kong.

"We hope the resolution will help solve the Iranian nuclear standoff through diplomatic negotiations within the IAEA framework," the spokesman added.

China's stance on the Iran nuclear issue is"clear" and"consistent," Kong said. China advocates maintaining the authority of the international non-proliferation mechanism and solving the Iran nuclear issue through diplomatic negotiations.

Kong said China had been making positive diplomatic efforts on the matter before the meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors, which opened last Thursday.

According to Kong, Zhang Yan, a department director of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in charge of arms control and disarmament, headed for Tehran on Feb. 1. He exchanged views with senior Iranian officials on the nuclear issue, and also stated the stance and expectations of the Chinese government.

"Although the negotiation process has encountered serious difficulties, the Chinese side believes there is still room for the resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue through negotiations,"Kong said. The international community should not give up diplomatic efforts, he added.

China calls on all relevant parties to maintain restraint and patience, demonstrate flexibility and take constructive actions, so as to create the necessary atmosphere and conditions for the settlement of the Iran nuclear issue through negotiations, Kong said.

Six-party talks

China hopes the concerned parties will make joint efforts to restart the six-party talks soon, Kong Quan said.

The six-party talks mechanism was jointly established by the six parties, he said. All of them considered the mechanism vitally important and indispensable for peacefully resolving the nuclear issue on Korean Peninsula and maintaining the regional peace and stability.

China always calls on the concerned parties to establish mutual respect and strengthen dialogue and communication to deal well with the issues and overcome the difficulties in current process, Kong said, noting that such actions would help restart the talks in a timely manner.

"China hopes that the concerned parties will make efforts to restart the talks as they said in the statement they made during the first phase of the fifth round of six-party talks", Kong added.

Palestinian elections

China hopes that the smooth completion of Palestinian parliamentary elections will help an early realization of peace and stability in the Middle East, said Kong Quan.

China is glad to see the smooth completion of the elections and hopes the elections will promote the stability and development of Palestine, said Kong.

He said China believes that no matter what party is in power in Palestine, it should proceed with the fundamental interests of the Palestinian people to solve the disputes with Israel through peaceful means and political negotiations. They should use related resolutions of the United Nations and the principle of"land for peace" as bases for reaching a peaceful settlement in the Middle East.

The Islamic Resistance Movement(Hamas) won a victory in the Palestinian parliamentary elections in January 25.

Togolese president to visit China

Kong Quan announced on Tuesday that at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, President of the Republic of Togo Faure Essozimna Gnassingbe will pay a state visit to China from Feb. 12 to 18.

Myanmar PM to visit China

Kong Quan also said that at the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister of the Union of Myanmar Soe Win will pay an official visit to China from Feb. 14 to 18.

Cameroonian FM to visit China

Cameroonian Minister of External Relations Laurent Esso will pay an official visit to China from Feb. 13 to 18, Chinese foreign ministry said.

Kong Quan said that Laurent Esso was invited by Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. Enditem