US President George W Bush today renewed his call for Beijing to release the crew of a US spy plane impounded in China and warned Sino-US ties "could be damaged" by further delays.
"Every day that goes by increases the potential that our relations with China could be damaged and our hope is that this matter gets resolved quickly," President Bush said, flanked by his full cabinet.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has called for an amicable and early settlement of the stand-off between the United States and China. "Pakistan wants to see an amicable and early resolution of this problem," foreign office spokesman Riaz Muhammad Khan said.
In a statement, carried by the official Associated Press of Pakistan, Khan said Pakistan regretted the loss of life of the Chinese pilot, who is still classed as missing after parachuting out of his plane.
"Our sympathies in this regard were conveyed" to Chinese Vice Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Relations An Min, currently visiting Pakistan, he said.
Beijing, holding the crew of 24 from the EP-3 surveillance aircraft since the mid-air collision on April 1st, wants a full US apology for the incident.
The United States has expressed "regret" over the presumed death of the Chinese pilot but has ruled out an apology.
Pakistan maintains friendly relations with the US and relies heavily on Chinese assistance in defense and economic fields.
AFP