China Declares Support for Bush's Call for Steps to Fight Arms Trafficking

[rodbarnett]

BEIJING (AP) - China declared its support Thursday for President Bush's call for steps to halt illicit arms trafficking, saying it had a "common interest" with Washington in fighting the spread of weapons of mass destruction

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said Beijing would take "effective measures" to enforce recently issued rules against exports of weapons technology by Chinese companies.

"China resolutely opposes the proliferation of WMD as well as its vehicles of transportation. So China has a common interest with the United Sates," Zhang said. "China consistently advocates strengthening international cooperation in the field of nonproliferation."

The unusually prompt response to Bush's proposals in a speech Wednesday reflected China's efforts in recent months to portray itself as a responsible nuclear power and partner in keeping weapons technology out of the hands of rogue states or terrorists.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGASQGHOKQD.html