Q: The Laotian Prime Minister Boungnang Vorachit is in his visit to China now. Yesterday he held talks with Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji. Can you tell us more about the visit? What kind of results will be achieved by his visit?


A: At the invitation of Premier Zhu Rongji of the State Council, Prime Minister Boungnang Vorachit of the Lao People's Democratic Republic pays an official visit to China from February 3 to 7. The visit is aimed to further strengthen the traditional good-neighborly relations. During the visit, Premier Zhu Rongji held talks with Prime Minister Boungnang Vorachit. President Jiang Zemin and Chairman Li Peng will meet respectively with him this afternoon. The leaders will have a full exchange of views on subjects of developing bilateral friendship and cooperation in all fields and enhancing regional cooperation. Besides Beijing, the Lao delegation will also visit Xi'an and Kunming.

With regard to the concrete results of the visit, as far as I know, during the visit the two sides signed five agreements including agreements on economic and technological cooperation, banking cooperation and the plan on educational cooperation from 2002 to 2005.

China and the Laos embrace traditional friendly relations. I believe his visit will undoubtedly enhance the good-neighborly friendship and cooperation between the two countries.


Q: Tomorrow China will re-open its embassy in Afghanistan with Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi holding the ceremony. What is your comment on this?


A: I briefed you about this at last briefing. On February 6 China's embassy in Afghanistan will be formally re-opened. Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi will preside the ceremony. Afghanistan is a friendly neighbor of China. We believe that the formal re-opening of China's embassy will surely push forward the further development of friendly cooperation between China and Afghanistan.

Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi is the highest level official of China to visit Afghanistan in the past 30 years. During his visit the leaders of the interim government of Afghanistan will meet with him and exchange views in an in-depth way on bilateral relations.


Q: Is there any possibility that during his visit to Kabul Foreign Minister Wang Yi will also visit Pakistan and hold discussions with Pakistani officials?


A: Last time I mentioned that I did not have knowledge on how he would go to Kabul. By now I can assure you that he will take way from Pakistan to Kabul. At present the two sides are preparing on this and I believe that he will meet with the Pakistani officials and exchange views in an in-depth way on bilateral issues of common concern.


Q: It is learnt that President Jiang will pay a visit to Vietnam at the end of February or the beginning of March. Can you brief us on the specific arrangements?


A: Not long ago as General Secretary Nong Duc Manh of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam visited China, he invited General Secretary Jiang Zemin to pay an official good-will visit to Vietnam this year in his convenience. President Jiang happily accepted his invitation. The relevant departments of the two countries are actively preparing for the visit. I will brief you as soon as I get the information.


Q: US President Bush requests the largest defense expending increase in something like 21years.Is the Chinese side worried about this?


A: I have taken note of the relevant report. It is our hope that the defense policy of the United States can be conducive to the maintaining of world peace and stability and conforms with the tides of world peace and development.


Q: Many people are concerned that some Chinese workers fell victim of the fraud in Singapore. It is said that the number is 110. Does the Chinese side update on the latest investigation?


A: I have also taken note of the relevant report. In my view, these Chinese workers made a long way to make money through hard works only to find that that they were robbed when they tried to remit the money to their relatives. We feel very shocked. We express our deep sympathy on this. The Chinese government is highly concerned and has made representations with the Singaporean side. The Chinese government has requested the Singaporean side to take immediate measures and bring the outlaws to justice, recover the lawful earnings of the Chinese victimized workers and earnestly guarantee the legal rights of Chinese citizens in Singapore.


Q: Please brief us about Moroccan King Mohammed's talks with President Jiang Zemin. Did they discuss the issue of Jerusalem? What is China's position concerning this issue?


A: King Mohammed VI of Moroccan pays a state visit to China from February 4 to 9. He has visited China as a crown prince. And this visit is his first state visit to China as a king and it is an important one. During the visit the leaders of the two countries will exchange views in an in-depth way on bilateral relations as well as world and regional issues of common concern. We believe that the visit will further consolidate and enhance the existing friendly cooperation in all fields between the two countries. As far as I know, during the visit the two sides will sign some agreements including agreements on economic and technological cooperation. King Mohammed will also visit Shanghai and Hong Kong besides Beijing.

As to the second part of your question, the Chinese side holds that the sovereignty of Jerusalem touches upon religious, historical and ethic factors, thus it is very difficult to find a solution. We hope the concerned parties stick to political negotiations on the basis of related UN resolutions and the agreements already reached by various sides, make unremitting efforts and give play to their imagination so as to find a resolution acceptable to all.


Q: The United States is helping the Philippines and offering help to Indonesia to fight against the so-called Muslim terrorism, at the same time the United States refuses to support China in its combat against East Turkistan. Is this under discussion during President Bush's visit to China?


A: With regard to the international anti-terrorist fighting, China has reiterated its position on various occasions. First of all, the Chinese side actively participate in the international anti-terrorist campaign, maintaining that the international community should continue to cooperate the campaign of this kind. On the other side we keep on stressing that fighting against terrorism can not adopt double standards. China's position on this is quite clear.

As to the second part of your question, the relevant agenda is being discussed by the two sides. According to my knowledge, the second advance party will come to China this week to discuss in further details and adjustments for President Bush's upcoming visit. That is why I am not able to share with you the agendas of the visit.


Q: It is reported that British ministry of defense has confirmed that the British Government has asked for permission to use China's air base near Afghanistan. Can you confirm that?


A: I have got no information concerning this.


Q: At a seminar held on January 24 marking the 7th anniversary of President Jiang's "Eight Proposals "for reunification, Vice Premier Qian Qichen expressed welcome for the vast number of DPP members to visit the mainland in a proper capacity. The East American Branch of the DDP said that they were willing to contact with China's embassy in the United States. Has the Foreign Ministry got any information? What is your position on the DPP's idea of contacting with China's embassy?


A: Our position is that we will unswervingly enhance dialogue and exchanges with various parties and people of all fields who cling to One China principle and maintain developing cross strait relations.


Q: It is reported that Vice Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing mentioned in a speech in the United States that the Chinese side prepared to exchange views with the US on the devaluation of the Japanese yen. Can you brief us on this?

A: Japan is one of the largest economies in the world and the largest one in Asia as well. We hope the Japanese side can adopt a responsible attitude on the devaluation of yen to avoid the competitive devaluation of the currencies in Asia as a result of the devaluation of the Japanese yen. If such were the case, it would not be conducive to Japan and the region at large, nor would it be conducive to the economic recovery of the world.


Q: Is the Chinese side ready to exchange views with the United States on the devaluation of the Japanese yen?


A: I do not have information on the details of Vice Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing's exchanges of views with the US. But I believe that it is quite natural for the two sides to exchange views on the situation of world economy, especially the trend of the Asian economy.


Q: China commented on US President Bush's State of Union Address and his description of North Korea, Iran and Iraq as "axis of evil", it refuses such description and said that the United States must provide irrefutable evidence against them. Did the United States provide China with irrefutable evidence against Bin Ladin? Did they prove that he is the one who did the attack on September 11?


A: Last time and yesterday as I answered the questions of the journalists, I mentioned that President Bush's termed "axis of evil. The Chinese side is not for using such terms in international relations. Because if we follow this logic, it will cause serious consequences. We always hold that fighting against terrorism should have compelling evidences and should not willfully expand the scope. The international relations should be handled in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the principle of equality of all countries. Only by so doing can we maintain world peace and stability.

With regard to the evidence of Bin Ladin's engagement of terrorism, I remember that before and after the United States took military actions against Afghanistan, it has briefed the world successively.


Q: You mentioned that the second advance party of the United States will be here in China this week to discuss on President Bush's visit. Is it that the agenda can be settled down?


A: President Bush is scheduled to pay a working visit to China from February 21 to 22. February 12 marks the beginning of China's Spring Festival. Thus in my opinion, the second advance party's visit will settle down the details of President Bush's visit.


Q: The anti-terrorist war is expanding to many countries, such as the Philippines and Indonesia. How do you expect the war affect modest Islamic region? How does it affect the security in the region as a whole? And how does it affect the security of China?


A: First of all, China's position is quite clear. The fighting against terrorism should have compelling evidence and the scope should not be willfully expanded. Secondly, you just mentioned that the United States strengthened cooperation with some countries on anti-terrorism. I have already made our attitudes known on various occasions. We hope that the relevant cooperation can be conducive to the international anti-terrorist war and the regional peace and stability.


Q: Do you think that Abu Sayyaf terrorist force or some Muslims in Indonesia are terrorist organizations? Are there any terrorist organizations in the region except Bin Ladin and his Al Qaeda?


A: There are some disagreements on the definition of terrorism. The United Nations is working for the "Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism". According to my knowledge, we have been working on this for quite a few years. After the September 11 Incident, the process for the negotiation has been accelerated. China has been actively participating in the negotiation of the convention. We hope that the various parties can bridge their differences by cooperating with each other in a practical manner so as to find a resolution acceptable to all parties and make the convention passed at an early date. With the birth of the convention, the international community will have a clearer consensus on the origin, definition of terrorism and the means of fighting against terrorism.