On the afternoon of November 9, 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 the Sri Lankan Government,the Indian Government and Mr. Oh Myung, Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Science and Technology of the Republic of Korea,Chinese State Councilor Chen Zhili will pay official good-will visits to the three countries from November 11 to 23.

At the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Baldwin Spencer, will pay an official visit to China from November 17 to 22.

Q: Could you brief us on what Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing has achieved during his visit to Iran and what about the Iranian nuclear program has Mr. Li discussed in his telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart? The Chinese side hopes Iranian nuclear issue can be resolved within the framework of IAEA. What specific regulations does China expect Iran to fulfill within the framework?

A: I'm ready to brief you on Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing's just-concluded official visit to Iran. This visit, actually a return visit to Iranian Foreign Minister's visit to China last year, is very important. The Iranian side attaches great importance to Mr. Li's visit. Iranian President Khatemi met with Mr. Li and his delegation. Mr. Li also met separately with Iran's Supreme National Security Council Chief Rohami and the head of the Islamic Republic's Expediency Discernment Council, Iran's former President Rafsanjani. Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing also held talks with his Iranian counterpart. The two sides exchanged views over China-Iran bilateral relations and other issues of common interest and attended a joint press conference after the meeting.

As for the Iranian nuclear issue, we think it should be discussed within the framework of IAEA. Now some countries want to put this issue on the table of UN Security Council. We think this issue should be resolved within the framework of IAEA. This is China's clear position.

Recently, some countries including EU are conducting diplomatic activities over this issue. China and EU have been keeping consultations over this issue. When Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing recently made phone conservations with his Russian counterpart, US Secretary of State Powell and National Security Advisor Rice, all parties exchanged views over this issue.

Q: There is news in the Argentine side that President Hu Jintao is expected to bring an investment of 20 billion US dollars in his upcoming visit to Argentina. Please confirm this news. Could you offer more information about China's aide program to Argentina?

A: President Hu Jintao will start his journey tomorrow to visit four Latin American countries and attend the 12th Economic Leadership Meeting of APEC. This visit is significant. It is the first time for President Hu Jintao to visit four Latin American countries since he assumed presidency. Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Cuba are all friendly countries of China. China's bilateral relationship with these countries has been developing very rapidly in recent years. In the political area, China and these countries have been keeping close exchanges. There are frequent exchanges between leaders of both sides. We have shared many identical or similar views on many regional and international issues. The economic and trade exchanges between China and these countries have also witnessed rapid progress.

Both China and Argentina have attached great importance to this visit and have made a lot of preparations for it. During their visit, both sides will sign agreement on further strengthening economic and trade cooperation. As for what kinds of agreement will be signed, it will not be decided until the talks begin. As for relevant reports you mentioned, I think you have already seen that Argentine side has denied the news.

Q: The Korean media today reported that the Chinese side has repatriated 62 DPRK illegal trespassers and 10 illegal trespassers arrested respectively on October 26th and 25th to DPRK. Could you confirm the news?

A: I can't confirm the two questions here. But I did state here that organizing illegal immigration violates law in any country. Such act will be seriously punished in any country. China must seriously punish the so-called "snake-heads", who organized these human-trafficking, especially those who undermine social stability and order and pose personal threat or harm to personnel working and living in foreign embassies, consulates and schools. As for those people identified as illegal trespassers, the Chinese side has always handled them in accordance with international and domestic law with the spirit of humanitarianism.

Q: As for the Middle-East issue, the American troop stationed in Iraq has begun massive attack to Falluja. How does China comment the current situation and these actions of American troops in Iraq? The second question is, what's your comment on Palestine leader Arafat's recent health problem? Can you provide some information on the meeting between Israeli Foreign minister and Chinese leaders? Have they touched upon Arafat's health problem and his burial site?

A: As for your first question, we feel much concern about innocent civilian casualties caused by the protracted turbulence in Iraq. We hope the Iraqi side can restore stability as soon as possible, hold election as scheduled and smoothly carry out reconstruction at the earliest date so as to enable the Iraqi people to live in peace and stability.

The Palestine President Arafat is an old friend of the Chinese people. The Chinese government and leaders care much for his health and illness, have conveyed their care through various channels, sending him a basket of flowers through the Chinese embassy to France. The Chinese government and leaders have much concern over his illness.

As for your second question, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Israeli Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shalom paid an official visit to China. During his visit, Mr Shalom met with Premier Wen Jiabao and talked with Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. The two sides exchanged views on further enhancing China-Israel bilateral relations and issues concerning the Middle-East situation. Both sides think that China-Israel relationship has overall progressed smoothly and are ready to further develop bilateral relations on the basis of equality, mutual respect and benefits. Foreign Minister Shalom introduced Israeli views on the current Middle-East situations, expressed appreciation of China's positive role in propelling the peace process of Middle-East and hoped China can continue to play a constructive role. The Chinese side hopes that Palestine and Israeli sides can stop conflicts as soon as possible and resume peace talks, which serve the interests of both Palestine and Israeli sides.

Q: It is reported that President Hu Jintao will attend some seminars and signed free-trade agreements during his visit to the four Latin American countries. Could you confirm the news? The second question: did President Hu and President Bush talk about Iraqi issue when they made telephone talks yesterday night?

A: President Hu Jintao's upcoming visit to the four Latin American countries is a very important visit. As for the specific activities and details of this visit, I will brief you one after another after the visit begins.

We express much concern over the current Iraqi situations, hope Iraq can restore stability as soon as possible and all parties can create favorable conditions for Iraqi scheduled election. The Chinese side is ready to make its own efforts. The international conference concerning Iraqi issue will be held in Egypt on 22nd and 23rd of this month. China will dispatch Chinese representative to the UN Wang Guangya to attend this meeting. We hope this conference will help all parties expand their common understanding on the Iraqi issue to facilitate early stability of Iraqi situations and restore the reconstruction process of Iraq as soon as possible.

Q: Japanese media recently reported that the Japanese Government figured out three scenarios of "China's attack against Japan". What comment do you have on this? Does China really have such attacks in mind? If not, why did Japanese media make such a report? It is also reported that the Japanese military might use wireless detection equipment to monitor Chinese ships. How will it impact China-Japan relations?

A: China has taken note of the report, and we express grave concern over this. China and Japan are friendly neighbors. We hope to live in peace and seek mutual development with Japan and other neighboring countries, which serves the fundamental interests of the peoples in this region as well as in the world as a whole. It also conforms to the principles set forth in the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China and Japan and the China-Japan Joint Declaration. Both of our two sides should make efforts to implement these principles and attain these goals.

As to on what ground the report based itself, you should ask the Japanese side. The Chinese side deems it groundless and unreasonable to issue such a message. We follow the principle of "be friends and partners with neighbors" and tread along the path of development through peace. Our peaceful development, instead of posing threats to any party, will offer a good opportunity to the peace, prosperity and development of Asia and the world. We oppose any party cooking up or fomenting the so-called "theory of China's threat." The relevant party should abandon the Cold War mentality and promote the peace and development of Asia and the world as a whole.

Q: What are the major topics on the agenda of President Hu Jintao's visit to Brazil? Does the Chinese side expect Brazil to grant China the full market economy status? Will China's investment in Brazil be discussed?

A: China and Brazil share sound relations, known as a strategic partnership. Given that it is an all-embracing relationship, it is hard for me to single out the major topics on the visit's agenda. During President Hu's visit to Brazil, the two sides will discuss issues of various fields, such as politics, economy, science and technology, education and culture. They will also exchange views on some international issues and signed agreements on further enhancing trade, economic and scientific exchanges.

Regarding the question of recognizing China's market economy status, we hope this visit can help more countries better understand the fact that China has now established a fairly full-fledged socialist market economy. Over the past 26 years since the start of the reform and opening up program, China has been steadily pushing forward the development of marketization of economy. China's full WTO membership illustrates the full-fledged development of Chinese market economy. To recognize China's market economy status is conducive to the bilateral trade and economic exchanges between China and some Latin American countries, including Brazil.

Q: Is DPRK's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Yong Il visiting Beijing? Who will he meet with and what's on his main agenda? How will China promote the Six-Party Talks? The Chinese Ambassador to Vanuatu said China will pull out all its aids if Vanuatu establishes diplomatic ties with Taiwan. How many aids does China extend to Vanuatu every year?

A: DPRK's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Yong Il starts his visit to China from today. His visit is set in accordance with the exchange plan of the two Foreign Ministries. This afternoon, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will meet with Vice Minister Kim Yong Il, and Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei will also meet with him. The two sides will discuss how to strengthen China-DPRK friendly relations and cooperation and also touch upon the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

Now, all parties have consensus on promoting the process of the Six-Party Talks. China has been staying in close contacts, coordination and cooperation with other parties. We hope that the Parties concerned would show greater sincerity and flexibility, so as to hold the next round of the Talks as soon as possible. To hold the next round of the Talks is helpful to move forward the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula towards political solution.

On the question of Vanuatu, we have noticed the report. China is much concerned over this and has repeatedly contacted the Vanuatuan Government for information. Up to now, the Vanuatuan side has been telling us that the Cabinet Ministers' Meeting has not decided to "establish diplomatic ties" with China and Vanuatu will not change its one China policy.

Since we established diplomatic relations, China has provided Vanuatu with assistances within our capacity at the request of the Vanuatuan side and in line with the actual need of its development. We carried out a number of cooperation projects, which played positive roles in promoting the economic and social development of that country and were well received by the local people. We hope Vanuatu to adhere to the one China policy.

Q: Has the China-Japan summit at the APEC meeting been decided?

A: The contact and meeting between Chinese and Japanese leaders are important to China-Japan relations. But we hope that the Japanese side could create favorable atmosphere and conditions for this.

Follow-up: Then is it true that China-Japan summit cannot be held because the current atmosphere between the two countries is not good?

A: I have expressed myself clearly on this question, and I would not like to repeat what I said.

Q: In China's opinion, where should Arafat be buried if he died, Jerusalem or Gaza? How long did the telephone conversation between President Hu Jintao and President Bush last? Did they discuss the upcoming APEC meeting? Apart from reiterating the one China policy and opposing "Taiwan independence", what other discussion did they make on the Taiwan question?

A: On your first question, my answer is quite simple. It is a presumptive question, which is hard for me to answer.

As for the phone conversation between President Hu Jintao and President Bush, most of you maybe have read the news released by Xinahua News Agency about this conversation. Whether the conversation between the two heads of states is long or not is not important, what is important is that the two heads of states can keep such high-level exchanges. In their talks, both sides have exchanged views on further developing China-US relations. Generally speaking, in the past nearly four years, China-US relations have registered an overall development. Bilateral coordination and cooperation have achieved positive progress in many fields. In their phone conversation, President Hu Jintao specially stressed that the facts have borne out that as long as China and the US can firmly grasp the right direction of developing bilateral relations, as long as the two sides can stick to principles of the three China-US joint communiqués and properly handle the Taiwan question, the constructive cooperative relations will get a steady and sound development.

Q: The IAEA will submit the Iranian nuclear issue to the UN Security Council. What's China's position on this issue?

A: I have made clear China's attitude when answering the similar question of another reporter just now. We express much concern over the huge civilian casualties caused by protracted turbulence in Iraq.

Q: Several days before, some Chinese shops were attacked and fired in Venezuela. What's China's reaction?

A: The Chinese side is investigating the specific cause of this incident. Many Chinese people are living and working in Venezuela and other Latin American countries. They have made great contribution to economic development in these countries. We hope relevant parties can properly handle such incidents in the process of social development so as to protect the interests and rights of overseas Chinese people.

Q: A security conference is being held in Sydney, Australia. Who attends this conference on behalf of China? What proposition will China put forward?

A: As for this symposium on PSI, the Chinese delegate to attend this meeting is the Director-General of Arms Control Department of Foreign Ministry. At this meeting, the Chinese side will make a key-note speech aimed to introduce China's efforts in PSI.

Thanks!