On the afternoon of December 9, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue presided over a regular press conference.

Zhang: Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. I will begin with two statements:

At the invitation of Vice Premier Hui Liangyu, Chaturon Chaisang, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, will pay a working visit to China from December 15 to 17, 2004.

At the invitation of Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Manuel Rodriguez Cuadros, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Peru, will pay an official visit to China from December 13 to 18, 2004.

Now I'm ready to take up your questions.

Q: Could you provide some information on the visit of Mr. DeTrani, American Special Envoy for the DPRK Issue, to China and his talks with the Chinese side? It is reported by South Korean press that Mr.De Trani expressed disappointment towards the progress of the Six-Party Talks and China's efforts to promote peace talks. What reaction does China have on this? Besides, is there any latest news on the next round of Six-Party Talks?

A: The visit of Mr. DeTrani, American Special Envoy for the DPRK Issue, to China aimed to conduct working consultations with the Chinese side. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong, Cui Tiankai, Director-General of Department of Asian Affairs and Chinese Ambassador in charge of Korean Peninsula Issue Ning Fukui met with him respectively. The two sides made an in-depth exchanges of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, particularly on how to open the next round of Six-Party talks at an early date.

China hopes the next round of Six-Party Talks or working group meetings to be held as soon as possible. In fact, consultations to this end among all parties concerned are also an important part of the Six-Party Talks and helpful for further enhancing mutual understanding. In this sense, such consultations are both meaningful and rewarding. The nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula is complicated. We can't expect to resolve the issue at one stroke, nor can we count on merely several rounds of consultations. We hope all parties concerned to display their flexibility and sincerity for peace talks. China still maintains that the next round of Six-Party Talks should be held as early as possible.Yet the specific timetable for Talks is still to be worked out.

Q: The Japanese Government claimed that they spotted a Chinese oceanic survey ship in Japan's exclusive economic zone near Okinotori and required the Chinese side to halt this activity immediately. What comment does China have on this issue?

A: China and Japan have different opinions on the nature of the relevant waters you mentioned. The Chinese side thinks that vessel was only conducting normal scientific surveys on the high seas. China and Japan should keep consultations through relevant channels. We hope the Japanese side to stay calm and prudent towards this issue.

Q: It has been two months since the past September. The six parties obviously stalled for some knotty obstacles in the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. What's the underlying obstacle at all? Besides, it is reported that the CEO of China Aviation Oil Corp. was detained by the police in Singapore yesterday. What reaction does China have on this issue?

A: I understand you have intense interest in the Six-Party Talks of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and have been following closely the latest development of this issue. The Chinese side still adheres to resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through dialogues and consultations. Although the parties concerned have differences on this issue now, generally speaking, all of them think the issue should be resolved through dialogues and the Six-Party Talks is the most realistic and feasible mechanism in the best interest of its gradual settlement. All parties have reached a consensus on this point. The sticking point now is the mutual distrust between the US and the DPRK. We hold that, since all parties concerned consider the Six-Party Talks as the best mechanism to resolve the issue, they should display the utmost flexibility and sincerity in their efforts to hold the next round of Six-Party Talks at an early date.

As for your second question, the Commercial Affairs Department of Singapore summoned four chief officials of China Aviation Oil for investigation. Three of them are foreign citizens, one Chinese. After the inquiry by the Singaporean side, the four people submitted their passports to the Commercial Affairs Department of Singapore. The Department said that they temporarily keep these four people's passports for the sake of investigations rather than limiting their freedom of departure. If the passport holders want to leave Singapore, they can take their passports back from the Commercial Affairs Department. Their normal entry in or exit from the country will not be affected.

Follow-up: This incident bears on China's international image. Are Chinese governmental organs, such as State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), investigating the case?

A: Right now the competent authorities are keeping close watch on the development of this case. You can inquire about specific information at the SASAC.

Q: Can you offer details on Peruvian Foreign Minister's visit to China? Which Chinese leaders will he meet with? What's the significance of his visit?

A: Peruvian Foreign Minister Rodriguez will pay an official visit to China from December 13th to 18th. During his stay in Beijing, he will meet with Vice President Zeng Qinghong and talk with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. In addition, he will meet with principal officials from China's Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, National Tourism Administration and other departments. Besides Beijing, he will visit Shanghai.

Peruvian Foreign Minister's visit will push forward the development of our bilateral relations. Over the past 33 years since China and Peru established diplomatic relations, our bilateral relations have registered very rapid progress. Especially in the recent years, smooth headway is made in our bilateral cooperation in every field, including politics, trade and economy. The two sides maintain a close relationship in the international affairs. When attending the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting held in Chile shortly ago, President Hu Jintao met with Peruvian President Toledo. The two sides reached important consensus on further enhancing bilateral relations in every field. We believe Peruvian Foreign Minister's visit will play an important role in promoting China-Peru friendly relations of cooperation.

Q: Recently the Philippines has been hit by an array of strong tropical storms, which resulted in heavy loss of lives and properties. The Philippine side has called for international assistances. Is China going to offer any aids?

A: We express our deep sympathy for Philippines' being hit by strong tropical storm. Recently, President Hu Jintao expressed his solicitudes to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo via telephone. The Chinese Government has already offered US$ 500,000 in cash to the Philippine side. As a further token of China's friendship with the Philippines, and to help the Philippine Government and its people fight the calamity and relieve the distress, the Chinese Government has decided to provide another US$ 200,000 to the Philippine Government. We hope the people in the disaster area to tide over the calamities at an early date and rebuild their homeland.

Q: On December 8, China and the EU signed the Joint Declaration on Non-proliferation and Arms Control. Could you brief on its significance?

A: During the 7th Sino-EU Summit, Foreign minister Li Zhaoxing and Javier Solana, Secretary General of the EU Council and High Representative of EU for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, respectively on behalf of the Chinese Government and the EU, signed the China-EU Joint Declaration on Non-proliferation and Arms Control on December 8. The Declaration confirmed that China and EU are major strategic partners for each other in the fields of disarmament and non-proliferation, and defined the priorities in our cooperation. It is conducive to elevating our cooperation in the fields of disarmament and non-proliferation to higher level, as well as expanding and deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and EU.

China and the EU share broad common interests and wide consensus on non-proliferation and arms control. Both sides are committed to maintaining international security, opposing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and upholding and strengthening the international system of non-proliferation and arms control. As two important forces in safeguarding international peace and security, China and EU's more in-depth cooperation on non-proliferation and arms control is important and positive to the advancement of the cause of international non-proliferation and arms control, as well as safeguarding the world's peace and stability.

Q: Labor Union leaders in Australia and New Zealand said that China has cancelled a symposium on labor standards scheduled for next week. Can you confirm? Why was it cancelled? What's your comment on their remarks?

A: You have to consult the organizations involved for the symposium. However, for the accusations in question, I believe they are groundless and unreasonable.

The Chinese Government has shown consistent respects to the labor rights and standards that are universally recognized. We give high priority to the protection of legitimate labor rights. By now China has ratified 24 international labor conventions and taken an array of measures in the aspects of legislation, law enforcement and administration to steadity improve the legal system governing labor protection, thus having offered effective protection for laborers' rights. In the process of its economic and social development, China is open to discussion and cooperation with other countries on how to better protect labor rights. In fact, China has been actively participating in the international discussions and consultations on the relevant conventions and playing a positive and constructive role in this regard.

Q: There were reports from Japan said that a Chinese vessel conducted surveys in the waters claimed by Japan. Could you tell me what it was surveying? The Japanese side also alleged that there had been 21 incidents of its kind this year. Can you confirm the number? If so, how come so many incidents took place?

A: Just now, I stated China's position on this issue. China and Japan hold different views on the nature of the waters. The Chinese side deems it a normal scientific survey on the high seas. As for the content of the survey and the number of Chinese vessels' surveys in this year, I don't have available information. Still I want to stress that the Chinese vessel was engaging in a normal scientific survey.

Q: The Seventh China-EU Summit has concluded. EU decides to maintain its arms embargo against China. What reactions does China have on this?

A: All of you may have read the Joint Statement of the Seventh China-EU Summit, in which the EU expresses its political willingness to lift the arms embargo against China and readiness to make continued efforts for the embargo removal. The Chinese side welcomes this stance and hopes the EU to proceed from the overall interest of comprehensive strategic partnership between China and EU and make an early decision to lift the embargo.

The Joint Statement of the Seventh China-EU Summit bears guiding significance on the development of China-EU relations. The Statement reflects the consensus and fresh achievement in all fields scored at the Seventh China-EU Summit. In the Statement, the two sides express their willingness to steadily push forward the development of China-EU relations, identified the key fields and measures of bilateral cooperation in the days ahead and voiced their views on some international and regional issues. This summit, positive results as it has yielded, is of great importance to further promote bilateral relations.

Follow-up: Will China have some improvement in human rights for this decision of EU?

A: Regarding this issue, I have repeatedly introduced China's position. China firmly opposes to linking the human rights issue with the removal of arms embargo. We think the arms embargo, as a leftover from the Cold War incompatible with the all-round development of China-EU relations, has come to the high time for complete solution. The great progress China has achieved over these years is obvious to all. But due to different historical and cultural backgrounds, social systems and development levels, the two sides may have different views on the human rights issue. Some differences can be resolved within the framework of human rights dialogues. The EU countries also recognize the positive effects of these dialogues. So it is unreasonable to link the human rights issue with the arms embargo removal.

Q: After the Oil-for-Food scandal was revealed, many countries voiced their support for Annan's staying in his office. What's the comment of the Chinese side?

A: The UN has appointed an independent investigation panel on the Oil-for-Food program. We hope the investigation panel to make clear at an early date whether any corruption exists in the implementation of the program through just, independent, objective and transparent investigation.

We believe that Secretary-General Annan has played a positive role in boosting the UN's efforts to safeguard world peace and security and to promote development on the globe. He has also devoted positive endeavors to consolidating the authority of the UN in handling international affairs. China highly appreciates the work of Secretary General Annan. As an important member of the UN, China will support Secretary General Annan in his further efforts to uphold and strengthen the role of the UN.

Q: After the China-EU Summit yesterday, Secretary General of the EU Council Solana expressed to the media that the arms embargo would be lifted in the first six months next year. Does China think it can be lifted so soon?

A: I talked about China's position just now. In the Joint Statement of the Seventh China-EU Summit issued this time, the EU expresses its political willingness to lift the arms embargo against China and readiness to continue efforts in this regard. We welcome such a positive stance. China thinks the issue should be resolved at an early date. We hope the EU can proceed from a strategic view of China-EU relations and the overall interest of comprehensive development of our bilateral relations, and resolve the issue as soon as possible. The sooner, the better.

Q: China has been expecting the EU to recognize its status of full market economy. What progress has been made during this China-EU Summit in this regard? Secondly, China has provided humanitarian aids to the Darfur region of Sudan. Could you get us updated on this issue? Does China support the relevant suggestion put forward by the UN?

A: During the 7th Sino-EU Summit, the two sides touched upon the recognition of China's full market economy status. The EU side said that it move further in its positive consideration on granting China full market economy status. The Chinese side briefed on its great efforts in building the socialist market economy.

China has been closely following the issue of Darfur in Sudan, and have made positive efforts to help ease the tension in the region. We provided humanitarian aids to the region and also encouraged the Sudanese Government to cooperate with the international community and take effective steps for the improvement of the humanitarian and security situation there. After the recent UN conference on Sudan, the situation in the region has improved to some extent. China fully supports the actions of the African Union and the UN in Darfur, and is willing to keep to our due role in seeking a proper settlement for the issue.

Thank you!