On the afternoon of October 21, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue presided over a regular press conference.
Zhang: Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. I have no announcement to make today, so I'd like to take your questions.
Q: A recent report claimed there are still Chinese diplomats in Kiribati,a small island nation in the South Pacific, Could you confirm? As for the disastrous blast in Daping coalmine of Central China's Henan province, I will first extend my condolence to the victims. Has any country expressed solicitude or intention of offering aids to China? Could you comment on the American presidential election or say something like China's expectation?
A: China and Kiribati suspended diplomatic relationship last year. To my knowledge, some working staff oversee premises and property of our previous embassy there, but they are not diplomats.
Thank you for your condolence to the unfortunate victims in Daping coalmine blast. Today the Information Office of State Council has held a press conference to brief reporters on the latest information. The State Council has shown much concern over this accident and dispatched task forces within the shortest time to provide assistance. Since the accident has just occurred, I still don't know if any country has shown solicitude or offered aids. .
As for the American presidential election, I don't make any comment. But I want to point out that the Chinese government attaches great importance to China-US relations. Whoever is elected, China will continue to promote the development of constructive cooperative relationship with the American government. The development of China-US relations is in the interests of peoples of both countries. It is of great importance not only to China and the US, but also to peace, stability and development in Asia and the world as a whole.
Q: Does Mr. Kim Yong Nam's visit to China yield any specific progress for the next round of Six-Party talks? What kinds of specific aids at all has China provided the North Korea? In his meeting with President Hu Jintao, Kim Yong Nam said he had brought President Kim Jong Il's verbal message, what's this message about?
A: Mr. Kim Yong Nam's visit to China is an important high-level visit between China and the DPRK, also his second official good-will visit to China after five years. The DPRK delegation's visit headed by Kim this time is an important event marking 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship between China and the DPRK. During his stay in China, Kim exchanged views in an in-depth manner with Chinese leaders over China-DPRK relations, nuclear issues in the Korean Peninsula and other issues of mutual concern. Both sides pledge continued efforts to propel the process of Six-Party talks. The DPRK side explicitly stated that their standing to resolve the nuclear issues in Korean Peninsula through dialogues remains unchanged. That is to say, the DPRK side hopes to promote a solution of relevant issues through the mechanism of Six-Party talks. This point is very important. We hope all parties concerned show more flexibility over this issue, remain calm, further expand common understanding, enhance mutual trust and seek the earliest solution of the issues with the spirit of mutual respect and equal consultation.
With the spirit of building good-neighborly relationships and partnerships with our neighbors, we have, as always, developed relations with the DPRK and other neighboring countries in accordance with the policy of creating a "harmonious, tranquil and prosperous" neighborhood. As a friendly neighbor of DPRK, China has offered some aids within our capacity, aiming to help them resolve some difficulties in their economic development. I can't offer you specific details for the relevant aids.
As for the third question, the large national delegation headed by Kim and his meetings with Chinese leaders have demonstrated the great importance the DPRK side has attached to its relations with China.
Q: Yesterday the Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi said his homage paid to the Yasukuni Shrine shouldn't become the hedges impeding high-level exchanges. Meanwhile he hoped the Chinese government could understand his action. What's your comment on this?
A: We have noticed the Japanese leader's statement on this issue. A correct understanding and perception of the past history is an important political foundation for continued development of China-Japan relations. We hope that Japanese leaders can proceed from the overall interest of our bilateral relations, refraining from any action that hurt the Chinese people's feelings.
Moreover, I want to stress that the Chinese government attaches great importance to developing friendly cooperation with Japan, hoping the Japanese side can take concrete steps to push forward the steady and healthy development of bilateral relationship with the spirit of "taking history as a mirror and facing towards the future".
Q: China and Japan will hold negotiations in Beijing next Monday on disputes of natural gas exploration in the East China Sea. What expectations does the Chinese side have on Japan?
A: China and Japan will hold negotiations next Monday, the 25th of this month, on disputes over the East China Sea. We hope both sides can proceed from the overall situations of bilateral relations, enhance mutual understanding and seek solution of these disputes through calm dialogues.
Q: I'm an official from Philippine's embassy to China. My question is what's China's official position on Myanmar's Prime Minister Khin Nyunt's removal from office?
A: I will first introduce the regular practice of Chinese Foreign Ministry's press conferences. Generally speaking, we only answer reporter's questions. But I extend my warm welcome to you for attending our press conference. Some reporters probably also have interest in this question, so I will answer you.
We have noticed the latest development in Myanmar. As a friendly neighbor of Myanmar, China sincerely hopes Myanmar's political situation remains stable, continuing to push forward their ethnic reconciliation and democratic process.
Q: When will China's newly appointed ambassador arrive in Iraq? An international conference on Iraq issue will be convened in Egypt next month. Will China participate in? If so, what proposals will China put forward? What's China's stance if the Interim Iraqi Government is the only wing of Iraq participating in the conference? Syria and Lebanon stated that the resolution just passed by the Security Council interfered in their interior affairs. What is China's opinion on the resolution? Besides, what's your comment on the Security Council's "double standards"?
A: Chinese ambassador to Iraq Yang Honglin has left Beijing for Baghdad on the 11th this month. Now he has started his work.
China attaches great importance to the international conference on Iraq issue to be held in Egypt, and support the efforts made to resolve the Iraqi question by all parties. We hope the situation in Iraq could be stabilized as soon as possible and the election could take place on schedule. Therefore an elected government with wide representation will be established so that the reconstruction of Iraq can progress steadily. As for who will attend the conference representing China, currently I have nothing to tell. But one thing is clear, China hopes the conference can positively contribute to the stability of Iraq.
With regard to the Lebanon issue, the Security Council of the United Nations has passed many resolutions. We hope that the relevant questions can be resolved properly.
Q: The US Secretary of State Powell will visit China this Sunday. What issues will be discussed? Though the European Union will remove the quota on import of textile from China and Southeast Asian countries, the customs duties imposed on China are still higher than other East Asian countries, reaching 12%. Does China think it is discriminative?
A: US Secretary of State Powell will visit China soon. This is an important visit which will further promote the China-US relations. China expects to exchange views with the United States over China-US relations and other issues of common interest at this visit. Since the visit has not started, I can hardly anticipate what issues will be discussed. I think many questions, including the Taiwan issue, will be on the agenda. Chinese leaders will talk about the Taiwan issue when discussing the bilateral relations, because it is the most important and sensitive question in the China-US relations. Meanwhile China will exchange views with the United States over international questions including the DPRK nuclear issue and anti-terrorism. Both China and the United States are major countries of the world, and both are permanent members of the Security Council, taking special responsibility for the world's peace and stability. Therefore there are many topics between the two sides.
For the textile question. From January 1st next year, the world textile trade integration will be realized. This is an important achievement of the Uruguay round, and an objective reached by WTO members and developing countries through protracted and painstaking negotiations. The integration of textile trade conforms to the interest of all countries. We hope that all countries exert efforts to fulfill the integration instead of setting up new obstacles.
Q: Yesterday the spokesperson said that the Chinese side felt dissatisfied with Vietnam's oil and gas exploitation in the South China Sea. China and Japan also have disputes over the East China Sea. What's the difference of China's stances upon the two questions? At one press conference in September, the spokesperson said Japan had no reason to demand China to provide relevant data and information. Will China still refuse to offer the information at the China-Japanese talks on the 25th? Will there be any change in China's stance?
A: There exist disputes over the East China Sea issue between China and Japan. No matter what differences there are between the two disputes, there has been one consistent point in China's stand. We have always maintained that any differences or disputes should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation. It is in this spirit that China is going to consult with Japan over the East China Sea question next week.
About the second question, the Japanese side may put forward any thoughts or ideas at the talks next week. What's important is that disputes are resolved through the way of talks.
Q: Did Kim Yong Nam request China to send any message to the United States? If so, what is it? If not, how will the Chinese side brief on Kim's visit to Powell? The second question, there have been reports said that Powell is going to press China to re-engage in dialogue with Taiwan. If he does so, is that appropriate? What would be the Foreign Ministry's reaction to it?
A: The US Secretary of State Powell's visit has not started, so I will introduce the relevant infomation when he finishes the visit.
About the second question, I have to point out that the Taiwan issue is Chinese people's own affair. As for the question related to Taiwan in the China-US relations, China's stance has been explicit. The United States should strictly adhere to the one-China policy, follow the three Sino-US Joint Communiqués and oppose "Taiwan Independence", stop any official and military ties with Taiwan, cut off arms sales to Taiwan and avoid sending wrong signals to the Taiwan authorities. Only by doing this can help to maintain the peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, and ensure the smooth development of China-US relations.
Q: This week has seen a lot of activities on a variety of energy fronts for China. I'm wondering if you can tell us what the role of energy security is in the context of China's foreign policy. Is it a non-traditional security issue?
A: The question about China's measures being taken or the developments in the energy field is not for the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry. If you want to relate it to China's foreign policy, China's foreign policy in the first place is aimed to create a favorable international environment for the domestic economic construction and development, and this is common for any other country. That is to say, China's diplomacy must serve China's economic development.
Thank you!
