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BEIJING, (AFP) China opposes experiments for the purpose of human cloning, but will allow "closely-monitored" embryo stem cell research for treatment and prevention of disease, the health ministry said Thursday.

"China does not approve of, support, allow or accept any experiments in human cloning, and this stand is definite and clear," the ministry said, the state Xinhua news agency reported.

The government was reacting after a US biotechnology company claimed this week that it had created a human embryo through cloning.

The ministry urged that legislation on human cloning be put in place so that "the cloning technology can be developed healthily and used safely."

It said that research on embryo stem cells to treat and prevent diseases would be allowed, "but has to be rational and done under effective monitoring."

Chinese scientists urged the country's lawmakers to quicken legislation on human cloning, echoing concerns over legal and ethical issues of the technology, Xinhua said.

"We need to develop cloning technology, but we have to be very careful and make sure that scientific exploration is carried out under strict experimental conditions and laws," said Kang Le, director of the Bureau of Life Science and Biotechnology, which falls under China's top science think-tank, the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Li Lingsong, a professor of Beijing University, said the research of stem cells, including stem cells from embryos, should be supported.

"But the precondition is the researchers must follow certain internationally agreed-upon guidelines of ethics, and the research must benefit our society," he said. Li called the move to clone human beings "irresponsible behavior".

"Human cloning must be banned, and Chinese scientists have reached consensus on it," he said.

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