On the afternoon of July 8th, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhang Qiyue held a regular press conference.

Zhang: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen! Today, I don't have any announcement and the floor is open now.

Q: US Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Rice starts her visit to China today. Can you tell us which Chinese leaders she will meet with? Will the Taiwan question be one of the major topics for discussion?

A: US Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Rice starts her visit to China today. Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing is holding talks with her. This afternoon, Chairman of the Central Military Commission Jiang Zemin will meet with her. Tomorrow, she will meet with President Hu Jintao and State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan respectively.

On the whole, China-US relations have developed smoothly and the two sides frequently exchange views on bilateral and international issues. The stable and healthy development of China-US relations largely hinges on proper handling of the Taiwan question, that is to say, on whether the US takes concrete moves to uphold the one China policy and implement its commitments to observe the three Sino-US joint communiqués and oppose "Taiwan independence". We hope that the US treats China-US relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. The smooth and healthy development of our bilateral relations bears great significance to maintaining peace and stability in Asia and the world as a whole.

Q: During Mrs. Rice's visit to China, what specific topics on bilateral relations and international issues will the two sides discuss? Is there any post in the Chinese Government similar to that of US Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs?

A: Given that the visit has just begun, it is hard for me to predict the topics to be touched upon at the talks and meetings between Chinese leaders and Mrs. Rice. China-US relations are all-embracing, covering various fields such as politics, trade, economy, culture, and so on. Our two countries, as permanent members of the Security Council with important influence in the world, will discuss many issues at our talks.

On your second question, I have just introduced the arrangements for Mrs. Rice's meetings with Chinese leaders during her stay. She comes to visit China at the invitation of Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

Q: The Japanese Government has dispatched ships to survey seabed resources in the disputed waters of the East China Sea. What's China's reaction? Will China take further diplomatic moves?

A: Yesterday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi called in the Japanese ambassador to China for urgent meeting, during which he made solemn representations to the Japanese side on its unilateral action in the East China Sea. Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that the East China Sea had not been delimited yet and China and Japan had disputes on this question. The so-called "middle line", as a line advocated by Japan alone, has never been and will never be accepted by China. Japan's provocative action is unacceptable to China and we stand firmly against it. China will closely follow the development of the situation and reserve the right to make further reaction.

Q: The Tibetan organization in exile accused the Chinese Government of tightening restrictions on Tibetan Buddhism, in an attempt to stifle the local religion. What comment does China have on this?

A: I don't know what basis the accusation you mentioned has. It is our long-term basic policy to respect and protect citizens' freedom of religious belief. Chinese constitution and many other laws clearly stipulate protection for citizen's freedom of religious belief. In Tibet, religion has also been protected effectively. The Chinese Government has taken many measures to renovate religious sites in Tibet, including the Potala Palace. Tibetans' freedom of religious belief has also received protection. In recent years, the International Press Center has organized for many times interview trips of foreign journalists to Tibet. This August, we will continue to organize similar trips for journalists, to help them witness the situation of Tibet with their own eyes. You are welcome to join the interview group.

Q: Today, the DPRK Minister of People's Armed Forces said the DPRK should intensify preparations for war, so as to guard against possible US attacks to the DPRK. Since China has been working to promote the settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, is China concerned over this? Will the nuclear issue be one of the major topics during Mrs. Rice's visit to China? Does the DPRK convey any message to the US through China? What further measures does China expect the US to take to promote the solution of the nuclear issue?

A: Since I have not read the remarks of the DPRK side, it is hard for me to make comments. China's position on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula is clear to all.

 

We hope that peace and stability can be maintained on the Korean Peninsula and the nuclear issue can be resolved through dialogue and diplomatic negotiation. China is ready to make joint efforts with other countries.

As to whether the meeting will touch upon the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, I personally estimate that the two sides will touch upon this issue and other international issues. Through rounds of talks, progress has been made towards the solution of the nuclear issue on the Peninsula. We hope that the parties concerned double their efforts, so as to make new steps forward on substantive questions in the future talks.

Follow up: Does China think the moves of the DPRK are self-contradictory? For example, the DPRK Government sent delegates to the Six-Party Talks and undertook the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, whereas its Minister of People's Armed Forces called for intensified preparations for war. Does China feel confused?

A: It requires joint efforts of all sides to move ahead on the issue on the Korean Peninsula. We should say headway has been made at the Third Round of the Six-Party Talks, but tremendous difficulties are still lying ahead and mistrust between the parties concerned is till grave. Therefore, all parties to the Six-Party talks should make efforts together to strive for gradual solution of the issue through the mechanism of the Talks.

Q: Can you elaborate on China-US relations and give examples on improvements and problems of the relations? The Chinese Government has uninterruptedly raised the Taiwan question. Is it a habit of China or because China indeed wants the US to do something?

A: It is for sure that you want to learn more about China-US relations when reporting Mrs. Rice's visit to China. I am glad to take this opportunity to brief you on China-US relations. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of China-US diplomatic ties. In review of the development of our bilateral relations, great progress has been made. Both sides believe that China and the US share broad common interests and have a solid foundation for cooperation. Our bilateral cooperation plays an important role in maintaining the stability of Asia and the whole world. China-US trade and economic relations have also developed rapidly. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, our two-way trade volume has made a 50-fold increase.

The most sensitive and important issue at the core of China-US relations is whether the Taiwan question can be handled properly. China hopes that the US Government adheres to the one China policy and the principles in the three joint communiqués and properly handles the Taiwan question. How to handle the question determines whether China-US relations will move forward smoothly and soundly in the future. The development of China-US relations has not come by easily. We hope both sides can make maximum efforts to maintain and promote further development of our bilateral relations.