Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi recently accepted an interview in writing by Russia's Interfax. The full text of the interview is as follows:

I. What's your comment on the current China-Russia relationship? What areas should the two countries put their focuses on in 2008? Could you tell us the arrangement for the exchange of visits by the leaders of the two countries this year?

A: With the concerted efforts of both sides, the strategic partnership of coordination between China and Russia flourished and reached a new high. The two countries have identified the peace concept of being friends from generation to generation and never taking the other as an enemy. The cooperation in different areas is productive and has brought tremendous benefits to the people. China successfully held the Year of Russia events and Russia successfully hosted the Year of China events, which greatly consolidated the mutual understanding and friendship between the people and advanced the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries. China and Russia maintained close coordination in regional and international affairs, which contributed greatly to the peace and stability of the world at large.

The Chinese side would like to congratulate Mr. Dmitry Medvedev on his election as the President of Russia and extend our admiration and appreciation to President Vladimir Putin for his outstanding contributions to promoting China-Russia relations.

Looking into the year of 2008, the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination embraces the second decade. We would like to work together with the Russian side to push forward such partnership under the guidance of the Treaty of Good-neighborly Friendship and Cooperation between China and Russia.

Firstly, the two countries should maintain and strengthen high-level exchanges, increase mutual political trust and enhance mutual support to each other on issues involving the core interest of each other. We are looking forward to the visit by Mr. Medvedev, the incoming President of Russia. The heads of state of our two countries also held bilateral talks and meetings on various multilateral occasions such as the SCO Summit and the Informal APEC Leadership Meeting. The regular meeting between the prime ministers will soon be held in Russia.

Secondly, the two countries should improve the quality and level of pragmatic cooperation and implement the agreements reached by the two countries. We should give priority to pushing forward the cooperation in economy, trade, energy, investment, high-tech, environmental protection and other areas, optimizing the trade structure, expanding the trade of mechanical and electrical products, and improving the trade order.

Thirdly, the two countries should expand cultural and local exchanges and cooperation. We should organize well the Year of the Russian Language in 2009 and the Year of the Chinese Language in Russia in 2010. We should actively promote the exchanges of personnel and intensify efforts to construct cross-border transportation infrastructure.

Fourthly, we should strengthen coordination in regional and international affairs and make new contributions to maintaining regional and international peace and stability.

II. Are you satisfied with the current trade scale between China and Russia? What's the view of China concerning how to address the trade imbalance between the two countries?

A: The trade ties between China and Russia are growing with a pleasing momentum. According to the statistics of China Customs, the trade volume between China and Russia amounted to USD48.71 billion in 2007, up 44.3% year on year, being the highest growth rate since 1993. As the trade volume continued to expand, the trade structure was also improved. The import of mechanical and electrical products from Russia stopped decreasing after constant decline. The two countries also made new progress in investment and technological cooperation. As of the end of 2007, the scale of mutual investment exceeded USD2 billion respectively. The construction projects invested by Chinese enterprises in Russia, such as the Pearl of Baltic Sea, China Trade Center in Moscow, and the lumber deep processing project in Tomsk, are well under way. It can be said that the economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia has witnessed pleasing results both in terms of scale and quality.

The export from China to Russia also increased rapidly in recent years, which is determined by the economic development requirements and market demands of the two countries. China's goal is not to pursue trade surplus. We would like to work together the Russian side to take active measures to achieve trade balance. We wish to accelerate the oil and gas pipeline projects to ensure the stable growth of energy trade and we will also encourage Chinese enterprises to import more mechanical, electrical and high-tech products from Russia.

I wish to stress here that the Chinese market is open. The import volume of China exceeded USD950 billion and is growing at a rate of 20%. I hope that the Russian enterprises could improve their competitiveness and expand their export to China.

III. What's your vision on the prospect of cooperation within the SCO framework? Does the Chinese side think it proper to expand the membership of the SCO? When do you think that it is more realistic to resolve the issue?

A: The establishment of the SCO is the strategic choice made by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan with the goal of maintaining regional peace, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation and promoting common development. The growth of this organization in the past 7 years has proved that we have made a right decision and the SCO has a promising future.

Firstly, the SCO has established a sound institutional system and operational mechanism at different levels and covering different areas, creating sound legal and organizational foundation for the further development of this organization.

Secondly, the SCO member states further consolidated mutual political trust and good neighborly friendship by signing the Treaty of Long-Term Good-Neighborly Friendship and Cooperation. The cooperation in such areas as politics, security, economy, and culture continues to develop and enjoys vast potentials.

Thirdly, the SCO adheres to openness and carries out international exchanges in an active manner. The international community widely believes that the SCO has great potentials and has recognized its active roles. Now more and more countries express their wishes to carry out exchange and cooperation with the SCO. The external environment for the SCO is also improving.

The SCO has entered a new stage of development. The regional and international situation is undergoing profound and complex changes. Against such background, the SCO is facing new opportunities and challenges. So long as the member states adhere to the Shanghai Spirit of "mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for multi-civilizations, and striving for common development", earnestly implement the Treaty of Long-Term Good-Neighborly Friendship and Cooperation, further strengthen mutual political trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation, the SCO will make greater achievements. We are confident in the future of the organization.

The applications by some countries to become observers and formal members of the SCO are a sound proof that the purposes, principles and achievements of the SCO are widely recognized by the international community. The member states will make a decision on this matter in the principle of consensus-building through consultations in light of the development needs of the SCO and on the basis of overall consideration of different factors such as the political and legal factors.

IV. How should the negotiations on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula proceed? How likely will a substantial document be reached this year?

A: With the concerted efforts of all parties, the six-party talks has become an important platform to increase the understanding and trust, denuclearize the peninsula, normalize state relations, and achieve harmony in North East Asia. Actually the work in all fronts is moving forward, such the defunctioning of nuclear facilities in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the economic and energy assistance to the DPRK and the improvement of relationship between the countries concerned. The September 19 Joint Statement has entered the phase of implementation.

The six-party talks now faces some difficulties in terms of disclosure. The second-phase actions were delayed somewhat; but the general trend of development is not reversed. The parties have maintained close communication and coordination in this process. The Chinese side hopes that the parties keep their sincerity, maintain their patience, pool their wisdom, and take active measures to as to realize the comprehensive and balanced implementation of all agreements that have been reached and fulfill the objectives stated in the joint statement and push the six-party talks forward.

V. What is the position of China on the status of Kosovo? Are you concerned that some countries would bypass the United Nations to acknowledge the independence of Kosovo and therefore set a terrible precedent?

A: China is severely concerned of the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo.

The unilateral move taken by Kosovo would result in a series of consequences and exert extremely negative influence on the peace and stability in the Balkan region and the fulfillment of the goal of establishing a multi-ethnic society in Kosovo.

The Kosovo issue is a matter affecting the peace and stability in the Balkan region, the basic norms governing international relations and the authority and role of the UN Security Council. The Chinese side holds the view that Serbia and Kosovo should reach a solution acceptable to both parties and that is the best way out to the Kosovo issue.

China calls for Serbia and Kosovo to find proper solutions through negotiations within the framework of international laws. The international community should create favorable conditions for their negotiations.

VI. What's China's view on the status quo of the negotiations on Iran's nuclear issue? As one of the six parties involved Iran's nuclear issue and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, Do you think that tougher sanction measures should be adopted against Iran?

A: China supports the maintenance of the international non-proliferation mechanism with regard to the Iranian nuclear issue. China holds the view that the Iranian nuclear issue should be resolved by peaceful means through diplomatic negotiations. China does not want to see new turbulence in the Middle East.

Sanctions only could not resolve the Iranian nuclear issue. Finding a peaceful solution through diplomatic negotiations is the best choice for it complies with the common interest of the international community. The UN Security Council recently adopted Resolution 1803. The goal is not to punish Iran, but to push the parties back to the negotiation table and activate a new round of diplomatic efforts. Under the current situation, China hopes that the parties intensify diplomatic efforts and strive to resume negotiations at an early date so as to find a long-term, comprehensive and proper solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. The actions of the UN Security Council are helpful for the fulfillment of this goal. China will continue to play a constructive role in finding a proper solution to this end.

VII. Does China plan to join the G8? Does China want to get the support from Russia in this regard?

A: The G8 held dialogues with the leaders of developing countries on many occasions in recent years. The Chinese leaders were often invited to attend such dialogues. The Chinese side believes that the dialogues are conducive to advancing multiateralism, resolving issues of global nature, and promoting the establishment of a new type of global partnership based upon equality, mutual benefits and win-win results.

The Chinese side also noticed that there were some recommendations from both inside and outside the G8 on expanding the group and including some developing countries. This proves that the related parties have attached importance to the role of developing countries and the south-north dialogues and cooperation, which the Chinese side appreciated.

With regard to the expansion of the G8, there were still different opinions within the members of the G8. The dialogue mechanism between G8 and related countries is running well and can be maintained. As for its future direction, let the G8 take its course in accordance with its natural tendency. It will be there when conditions are ready.

VIII. What's the influence of the Taiwan question on China-US and China-Japan relations?

A: The Taiwan question is always a matter that concerns the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China and affects the national sentiments of the 1.3 billion Chinese people and tens of millions of overseas Chinese. It is always the most important and the most sensitive issue at the core of China-US relations. Properly handling the Taiwan question based upon the one-China principle is the key to the healthy and steady development of China-US relations.

The Taiwan question is the political foundation of China-Japan relationship. Abiding by the principles identified in the three political documents including the China-Japan joint declaration, honoring related commitments and properly handling the Taiwan question is the most fundamental condition for the smooth development of China-Japan relations.

The situation across the Taiwan Strait is extremely complex and sensitive at present. The Taiwan authorities led by Chen Shui-bian, in spite of the universal objections from the international community, obstinately engaged in the splitist activities including the "referendum on Taiwan's UN membership", which seriously threatened the peace and stability of the Asia Pacific region. The U.S. has reaffirmed on many occasions its adherence to the one-China policy, abidance by the three joint communiqués and its oppositions to the Taiwan's independence and the referendum on Taiwan's UN membership. Japan also expressed many times its adherence to the one-China policy and its opposition to the independence of Taiwan and the referendum on Taiwan's UN membership. We hope that the U.S. and Japan could proceed from the perspective of safeguarding the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and from the overall situation of China-U.S. and China-Japan relations and earnestly fulfill the above commitments.

IX. Some organizations and individuals hostile to China tied the human right issues with the Beijing Olympic Games. Will the expression of such opinions have some negative impact on the success of the Olympic Games?

A: The Chinese constitution protects the human rights, the freedom of speech and the freedom of religious belief of the Chinese citizens. Since the reform and opening up three decades ago, the economy of China prospered; the society was stable; the democratic and legal systems were improved; and the Chinese people enjoyed the rights and freedoms in compliance with the law. However, China is still a developing country with a population of 1.3 billion and still faces many problems and challenges in human rights. No matter whether China will host the Olympic Games or not, the Chinese government will be committed to the development human rights causes in China.

The Beijing Olympic Games is the Olympic Games of the world. The success of the Beijing Olympic Games is the common aspirations of the people in the world. The preparations for the Beijing Olympic Games are well under way. In the preparatory process, we welcome all types of good-will and constructive opinions and recommendations; but we are strongly against the organizations and individuals that intend to interfere in China's internal affairs and disturb the Beijing Olympic Games out of their political purposes by right of the so-called human rights for such move runs against the common aspirations of the international community and goes against the Olympic spirit of disconnecting the sports from politics. Such move is not fair to China, to the Olympic Games, or to the people who love sports. If we let such tendency go random now, any matter might be linked with the Olympic Games in the future. This will hurt the development of the Olympic Games and the interest of all countries. We hope that the international community could take a responsible attitude in this regard. I believe that with the support and participation of all countries, the Beijing Olympic Games will be a grand and successful event.