China to help foreign claimants in milk scandal (5:40 p.m.)
MANILA — China will help foreign companies that claim compensation from exporters of milk products tainted with the industrial chemical melamine, a senior Chinese official said Friday.
Liu Qian, China’s deputy health minister, said claims should first be resolved on a business-to-business level, but that China was ready to provide assistance through diplomatic channels if claimants encounter problems.
“The Chinese government will provide all necessary assistance,” he said at a news conference following a meeting with Asian health ministers. “We’re going to urge all our problematic companies to follow the market rule and the legal procedure to solve this problem.”
His assurance came amid statements from countries like the Philippines - which has found at least three melamine-contaminated Chinese milk products - that they will take up with China any possible local claims for compensation as a result of the entry of tainted milk products. No claims have been filed so far. (AP)
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