Liu Weimin, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Beijing was considering providing personnel for the U.N. observers mission, according to Xinhua, China's official news agency.

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Mr. Hague said the request was repeated several times over the following five or so weeks to different Chinese officials, including the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs vice minister for Europe.

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"China again calls for the two countries to immediately stop hostility and respect each other's sovereignty, " Liu Weiming, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular news briefing Thursday.

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Mr. Hague said that more than a week after he was informed of the case and instructed officials to seek a probe, on Feb. 15, the deputy head of mission of the British Embassy in Beijing met officials from the consular department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey the message.

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Government representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, the State Council, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and various Chambers of Commerce were all bullish on the opportunities for Chinese enterprises to go out and succeed.

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