On the afternoon of October 28, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue presided over a regular press conference.

Zhang: Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. First please allow me to make an announcement.

At the invitation of President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva of the Federative Republic of Brazil, President Nestor Carlos Kirchner of the Republic of Argentina,President Ricard Lagos Escobar of the Republic of Chile, and President Fidel Castro Ruz of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, President Hu Jintao will pay state visits to the four above-mentioned countries from Nov.11th to 23rd. President Hu Jintao will also attend the 12th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting held in Santiago, the Capital of Chile. Prior to the visits, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will lead the Chinese delegation and attend the 16th APEC Ministerial Meeting held between Nov. 17th and Nov 18th.

At the invitation of the Indonesian Government, as a Special Representative of President Hu Jintao, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan will pay a working visit to the Republic of Indonesia on Nov. 5th, and exchange views with the new leaders of Indonesia on strengthening the good-neighborly and friendly cooperation between China and Indonesia and other important issues of common interest.

At the invitation of Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, the Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Silvan Shalom will visit China from Nov. 5th to 9th.

Now I'm ready to answer your questions

Q: Now the result of American presidential election is about to turn out , the US might change its policy towards China. What position does the Chinese Government take on maintaining its relations with the US? Will the US change its policy on the Korean Peninsula?

A: The Chinese government attaches great importance to developing constructive cooperative relations with the US. China and the US are two major states of great importance in the world. Constant maintenance and development of friendly cooperative relations between the two countries is very important for the whole Asia and the world at large. The recent years has witnessed sound development in relations between the two countries. Leaders of both countries have been keeping close exchanges, reaching important consensus on further development of bilateral relations. We hope such relations can be carried forward, which is in the interests of peoples of both countries.

As to whether the US will change its policy towards China and its position on the Korean Peninsula, you can inquire the American side for information.

Q: The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)Director-General Elbaradei expressed his concern over the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, regarding it a threat to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Does China hold the same view? Besides, does China have any latest news on possibility of holding the fourth round of Six-Party Talks? Is it possible for the talks to be held by the end of November?

A: As for the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, the Chinese side hopes to maintain a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, safeguard peace and stability in this region, resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through peace talks. The Chinese side has made a lot of efforts. All the parties have reached a consensus on this issue: all parties will continue to promote the process of peace talks through the Six-Party Talks. Intensive diplomatic consultation, coordination and mediation have been always underway. As to whether the next round of Six-Party Talks will be held before late November or within this year, China's position is: The earlier, the better.

Q: Recently, the 25 EU member states formally signed the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe. What comment does the Chinese side have?

A: We have noticed that the 25 EU members had formally signed the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe, which sets up a new milestone in the process of the EU integration and has great significance for its future development. China has always been supporting the process of the EU integration. We are willing to see the EU make greater achievements in its political integration and continue to play a positive and constructive role in European and International affairs. We are convinced that a European Union, which strives for its own prosperity through integration, will provide fresh opportunities for deepening China-EU relations.

Q: Who will represent China to attend the international meeting concerning Iraq issue held in Egypt?

A: An international meeting concerning Iraq issue will be held in Egypt in November 23. China's permanent representative to the UN Wang Guangya, will attend the meeting as the special envoy of the Chinese government.

Q: Today Myanmar Prime Minister Soe Win is visiting China. I wonder what the objective of his visit is and whom he will meet? What questions will the Chinese side discuss with him?

A: The first China-AEAN Expo will be held in Naning, Guangxi Province. This exposition was proposed by China at the 10+3 meeting last year. During the exposition, the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit will also be held. Myanmar Prime Minister Soe Win will head the delegation to attend this meeting from November 2 to 5. Also present at the meeting are Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Laotian Prime Minister Boungnang, Vietnamese Vice Prime Minister Pham Jia Khiem,Thai Deputy Prime Minister Pinig,the Secretary-General of ASEAN and ministers for trade and economy of all ASEAN countries. On the sideline of the meeting,Vice Prime Minister Wuyi, honrary chairperson of organizing committee of China-ASEAN EXPO will meet with the guests.

Q: Since it is the first visit paid by President Hu Jintao to Latin America, can you tell us the significance of his visit, in particular, of his visit to Brazil and Cuba? It is said that he will go to Portugal on his way to Brazil, what's his agenda there?

A: Just now, I said that President Hu Jintao will soon pay a visit to four Latin American countries and attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. He will go to Portugal on his way to Latin America and meet with Portuguese Prime Minister Lopaz.

He will make an in-depth exchange of views with the four countries on how to further enhance China's friendly relations with them and have extensive contacts with people from their trade, economic, scientific and other communities as well as their local leaders. The two sides will sign some cooperation documents. I believe his visit will effectively elevate China's friendly relations and cooperation with them to a new height.

The theme of this APEC meeting is "one community, our future." The agenda of the meeting will focus on the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment and economic and technological cooperation, which are dubbed the "two wheels" of APEC. In addition, views will also be exchanged at the meeting on further promoting the new round of WTO trade negotiations, APEC's reform and other issues. China expects that all APEC members could make joint efforts to achieve concrete progress at this year's meeting in such major fields as trade and investment liberalization and economic and technological cooperation. We also expect to make positive headway on such issues as energy cooperation, APEC's reform and the mid-term stock-taking of the Bogo Goal, so as to make fresh contribution to deepening the cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

You may have other questions on the important visit of President Hu to Latin America. On the afternoon of this Friday, the IPC of the Foreign Ministry will invite Vice Minister Zhou Wenzhong and Assistant Minister Shen Guofang to brief you on the visit. You are most welcome to attend. Please follow the notice at the IPC's website for the time and venue of the briefing.

Q: Among President Hu's visit to Latin American countries, Brazil will be his longest stop. Several years ago, Former President Jiang Zemin also visited Brazil. Why does China attach so much importance to its relations with Brazil?

A: The China-Brazil relations have been developing very smoothly. In recent years, the two countries have established a strategic and cooperative partnership. Both sides have not only had many common grounds in the political area, but also similar or identical views on some international issues. The economic, trade, scientific and technological cooperation of two countries has also registered rapid development. Up to now, both sides have become each other's largest trade partner in their own region. This May, Brazil President Lula paid a successful visit to China. The two sides signed a number of agreements on cooperation. President Hu Jintao's upcoming visit to Brazil has demonstrated again the high importance the Chinese side attaches to developing our bilateral relations. As for other specific details of this visit, you can get more information at the briefing this Friday.

Q: Last week the People's Congress approved the agreement of cooperation between China and Tajikistan on fighting terrorism. Could you offer more specific information on what terrorist threat China is confronted with?

A: October 27, the twelfth session of the Tenth People's Congress approved the cooperation agreement between China and Tajikistan on fighting the "terrorist, extremist and separatist forces". In fact, since last April, the People's Congress has consecutively approved China's cooperation agreements on fighting "terrorist, extremist and separatist forces" with Kyrghyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. According to these agreements, China will carry out all-round cooperation with the four countries in Central Asia on fighting "terrorist, extremist and separatist forces". The cooperation includes: the parties to the agreements should allow the requesting party to audit the trial of cases involving cross-border terrorism in the accordance with law, may conduct joint investigation on relevant cases, will hold regular meetings and consultation between relevant departments, and brief each other on relevant information. China and these countries have shared interest in combating "terrorist, extremist and separatist forces" and hope to maintain continued peace and stability in this region.

Thank you!