Calling the resolution "groundless" and "unreasonable," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said the act violates the principles of three joint communiques between China and the US as well as the basic rules of international relations.

　　"It is a rude interference in Chinese internal affairs," said Liu.

　　The US House of Representatives approved a resolution expressing its "grave concern" about China's Anti-Secession Law which was passed by China's top legislative body by 2,896 votes to zero with two abstentions on Monday.

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

　　He urged the US Government to make its opposition on the resolution by the House of Representatives and take effective measures immediately to reduce its impact and work with China to check and oppose "Taiwan independence" forces.

　　Analysts believed that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would also raise concerns about the law in a visit to Beijing that is scheduled to begin on Sunday.

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

　　ODA discussion

　　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 yen loan from Japan to China -- one portion of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans, is a mutually beneficial capital co-operation.

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

　　Japanese media quoted Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura as saying that Japan and China had agreed to end the loans by 2008.

　　The Japanese Embassy downplayed the report.

　　"As far as I know, no official decision has been made by the Japanese Government concerning the ODA programme to China," Japanese Embassy spokesman Ide Keiji told China Daily Thursday.

　　Calling the ODA loans an important part of bilateral co-operation, he said both countries would work together to deal with the aid issue.

　　Japan's ODA for China include long-term yen loans, free grants and technical assistance.

　　Most of the aid has come in the form of yen loans.

　　World Bank nomination

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

　　"Whoever becomes the next president of the World Bank, we will work with him as a president of the World Bank," Liu said.

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

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

　　Current World Bank President James Wolfensohn is to stand down this summer.

　　(Source :China Daily)