China calls for steady development of Sino-British ties

BEIJING, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on Tuesday called for steady development of Sino-British ties after the frictions caused by the execution of convicted drug smuggler Akmal Shaikh.

"China attaches importance to its ties with Britain and it conforms with the two states' interests to maintain steady development of bilateral ties," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu told a regular briefing.

Chinese-British ties faced difficulties after criticisms by some British political figures and media regarding the execution of Shaikh on Dec. 29.

The 53-year-old was convicted of carrying up to 4,030 grams of heroin at Urumqi International Airport after arriving from Dushanbe, capital of Tajikstan, on Sept. 12, 2007.

China's Criminal Law stipulates that the trafficking of more than 50 grams of heroin is punishable by death.

"The Chinese judiciary's right to treat cases according to the rule of law should be respected and there's nobody who has the right to make improper comments on China's judicial sovereignty," Jiang said.

She said the Shaikh case was an isolated criminal case.

China and Britain should solve problems that both sides have differing opinions about in a proper manner and with the principle of mutual respect, so as to avoid damaging ties. she said.

Jiang also urged the European Union to act effectively to preserve the sound momentum of bilateral ties.