Some Chinese border ports have been closed due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue here Thursday at a regular press conference.

According to international practice, a country may temporarily close border ports or postpone their opening in epidemic or catastrophic circumstances, she said.

Some seasonal ports between China and Mongolia have been temporarily closed, and the opening of the Khunjirap port between China and Pakistan has been postponed, Zhang said.

Some restrictive measures have been put on the passenger and cargo flow through the ports between China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, she said, noting similar measures have also been taken to restrict personnel passage at the border ports between China and Kazakhstan.