"Cooperation between China and Pakistan regarding nuclear energy generation is purely for peaceful purposes and does not violate any non-proliferation obligations or China's export controls," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.

He was responding to questions about a US Central Intelligence Agencyreport issued last week which alleged that Chinese firms may be aiding Pakistan's nuclear weapons program.

"China is a party state to the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) treaty and is absolutely opposed to the proliferation of weapons of any kind," said Liu.

He further maintained that the nuclear energy cooperation with Pakistan was being carried out under safeguards put in place by the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The CIA report said Chinese entities continued to work with Pakistan and Iran on ballistic missile-related projects during the first six months of this year.

Despite a warming of relations in recent years, the United States and China frequently find themselves at odds over the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Washington has slapped sanctions on a long list of Chinese firms accused of links to nations including Pakistan, North Korea and Iran.

The unclassified report to Congress notes that Beijing promised Washington in May 1996 not to provide assistance to unsafeguarded nuclear facilities.

"We cannot rule out, however, some continued contacts subsequent to the pledge between Chinese entities and entities associated with Pakistan's nuclear weapons program," the report said.

It noted Beijing has taken some steps to educate individuals and firms on new missile-related export control regulations, but "Chinese entities continued to work with Pakistan and Iran on ballistic missile-related projects during the first half of 2003."

WAR.WIRE