On the afternoon of December 14, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao presided over a regular press conference.
Liu: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I'm very pleased to meet you here again after months of interval. I see many new faces here, and feel glad to work with my new friends from the press. Today, Ms. Lepa Babic, Spokeswoman and Director-General of Information Department of the Foreign Ministry of Bosnia and Herzegovina, visits China with a press delegation and joins us in our press conference. I would like to extend my welcome to them and wish them a pleasant stay in China!
Next, I have a statement to make:
At the invitation of President Hu Jintao, President of the Bolivar Republic of Venezuela Hugo Rafael Chaves Frias will pay a state visit to China from December 22nd to 26th.
This is the third state visit to China by President Chaves. During his visit, President Hu Jintao and other state leaders will meet with him respectively, for exchanges of views on bilateral relations and international issues of common interest. The two sides will also hold the third session of Sino-Venezuelan High Level Mixed Committee. Besides Beijing, Chaves will also visit Shandong.
Now, I'm ready for questions.
Q: It is reported that Vanuatu's Parliament made a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Vohor and decided to appoint Vice Prime Minister Lini new Prime Minister, who would set up a new cabinet. What comment does China have on this? How's the current relations between China and Vanuatu?
A: On December 11th, a new government was formed in Vanuatu. Premier Wen Jiabao, Vice Premier Huang Ju and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing have respectively sent messages of congratulations to such Vauatuan leaders as Prime Minister Lini and Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kilman.
On 13th, Prime Minister wrote to Premier Wen Jiabao, in which he reiterated that the Vanuatuan Government would firmly adhere to the one China policy and would not have any official relations with the Taiwan authorities. He also reaffirmed that all agreements signed between the former Vanuatuan leader and Taiwan on November 3rd were repealed. We appreciate this.
The Chinese Government attaches great importance to China-Vanuatu relations. Over the past 22 years since our two countries established diplomatic ties, our cooperation and exchanges have been steadily expanded in all fields and mutual understanding and friendship continuously deepened. Facts have proven that the development of our friendly relations and cooperation serves the interests of our two peoples.
There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territory. The Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing China. These are universally recognized by over 160 countries around the globe, including Vanuatu, and all major international organizations, including the United Nations. The one China policy is the political foundation for developing friendly relations between China and the rest of the world. The Chinese Government is ready to work with the new Vanuatuan Government to move ahead our friendly relations and cooperation on the basis of the Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between us and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
Q: Last week, Japan issued a new Outline for National Defense, naming China and the DPRK future threats. What's China's comment on this?
A: My colleague Mrs. Zhang Qiyue has expressed the view of the Chinese Government on the report before. Here, I would like to reaffirm the position of our government. We express our deep concern over the major readjustments of Japan's military and security strategy and the possible impacts arising thereof. Due to historical reasons, the developments in Japan's military and security have always been a very sensitive issue. We hope the Japanese side to take full account of the concerns of the people in its neighboring countries in Asia. It should stay on the path of development through peace and behave with prudence on the military and security issue, so as to maintain the peace and stability in this region.
Japan publicly plays up the so-called "China's threat" in its official documents. It is completely groundless and extremely irresponsible. China expresses its strong dissatisfaction at this. We hope the Japanese side to make more efforts in the benefit of the stronger mutual trust between our two sides and the healthy and steady development of our relations.
Q: Today, Executive Director of World Food Program James Morris said that the agency was requesting China to become a WFP's donor. Will China make such food donations? In addition, according to Xinhua News Agency, a DPRK trade delegation is engaging in trade talks between China and the DPRK in China. Can you give some details about trade between your two countries? And what does the DPRK export to China?
A: As for your first question, Executive Director of World Food Program James Morris visits China from 9 to 14 December at the invitation of Chinese Minister of Agriculture Du Qinglin. He inspected some programs in Gansu sponsored by WFP. Yesterday, Premier Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met with him.
China, as a developing country, still has 29 million of its citizens living in poverty. But considering 850 million people in the world still don't have adequate food and clothes, China will gradually step up donations to WFP compatible with its own capacity. We are willing to work with WFP and make contributions to poverty elimination around the world.
Regarding your second question, DPRK Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Kwang-gun is visiting these days, and Chinese Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai met with him in Beijing on 13th. The two sides exchanged views on the trade and economic cooperation between our two countries. During the meeting,Bo Xilai said that China and the DPRK shared a traditional friendship that had withstood tests of history. In recent years, the relations between our two countries developed steadily, with high-level visits frequently exchanged. Our bilateral trade grew rapidly, with large potential to be tapped.
I would like to tell you that the trade volume between our two countries totaled US$1.023 billion in 2003 and arrived at US$1.026 billion from January to October this year. Our bilateral trade is expected to surpass that of last year.
Ri Kwang-gun said in the meeting that the DPRK-China friendship was experiencing sound development under the solicitudes of our leaders. Our trade and economic cooperation has made big progress. The DPRK Ministry of Foreign Trade wishes to enhance cooperation and exchanges with China's Ministry of Commerce and other departments, so as to move ahead our bilateral trade and economic relations.
Our two sides also exchanged views on how to carry forward our mechanisms of joint committee on trade, economy and technology, step up investment and mineral production cooperation and improve relevant laws and regulations.
As for the composition of our bilateral trade, please refer to the Ministry of Commerce.
Q: The US State Department Spokesman Boucher said on 13th of this month that the DPRK had been all along delaying the progress of the Six-Party Talks. What comment does China have on this? Is China still confident in continuing the Six-Party Talks?
A: China has enough confidence and sincerity to push forward the Six-Party Talks, because all parties concerned agree that the Talks is the best approach to solution of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and should be moved on for achievements. Now, despite that the Talks faces differences among the parties and difficulties in its process, the Chinese side will continue to push ahead the Talks. It is fair to say that China is fully prepared to hold the next round of the Talks at any early date. We hope the parties concerned to display their sincerity and pragmatism, proceed from the overall picture of the peace and stability in Northeast Asia and the world at large, and reach consensus on the early opening of the next round of the Talks, so that progress could be made at the fresh round.
Q: A follow up question on the Six-Party Talks. Last week, Japan suspended half of its food aids to the DPRK in the excuse of the abductees incident. Some Japanese officials even called for economic sanctions against the DPRK. Do you think the above moves of Japan would affect the resumption of the Talks?
A: We have noticed the report. At a juncture as now, we hope all parties concerned, including Japan, should make more efforts to help resume the Six-Party Talks as soon as possible, rather than take any move that may complicate the situation and have negative impacts on the further progress of the Talks. We expect the problems between Japan and the DPRK could be properly resolved.
Q: Pakistani Prime Minister Aziz will start his visit to China from today. Who will meet with him and what agreements will be signed? What's your comment on the current bilateral relations and the direction of cooperation in the future?
A: At the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao, Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will pay an official visit to China from December 14 to 18. China and Pakistan have maintained traditional friendly relations and cooperation. During his visit, leaders of the two countries will exchange views upon further strengthening our mutually-beneficial cooperation, including that in the fields of trade and economy between China and Pakistan, as well as the international and regional issues of common interest. Meanwhile, the two sides will sign a number of agreements. Premier Wen Jiabao will hold talks with Prime Minister Aziz at the Great Hall of the People tomorrow, when I will also be present. So I will have more information available for you at the press conference the day after tomorrow.
Q: Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held talks with his counterpart of Timor-Leste this morning. What did they talk about? What's your comment on the current relations between China and Timor-Leste, and the bilateral relations after the independence of the latter in particular?
A: Just as you mentioned, Jose Ramos-Horta, Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste is visiting China. The major purpose of his visit is to preside over the inauguration ceremony of the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in China. The establishment of the embassy in China by Timor-Leste is an important follow-up move of the Communiqué on the Establishment of the Diplomatic Relations between us. It marks a new step forward of the bilateral relations.
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held talks with his counterpart Horta this morning. They exchanged views on the bilateral relations and other issues of common interest, and signed some documents, including the agreement on economic and technological cooperation between the two Governments. State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan will also meet with him this afternoon. Foreign Minister Horta will co-preside over the inauguration ceremony of the Embassy of Timor-Leste in China with Chinese vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei.
Q: Venezuelan President Chaves will visit China soon. Please brief on the goal of his visit. Is it more commercial or more political? Will the two sides sign an agreement on tourism, making Venezuela an authorized destination for Chinese tourists?
A: I introduced just now, President Chaves will visit China from December 22 to 26. During his visit, the two heads of state will hold talks. Besides, Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice President Zeng Qinghong will meet with President Chaves respectively.
Both China and Venezuela hope that President Chaves' visit will promote the further development of the partnership between the two countries. China and Venezuela enjoy an all-dimensional relationship, covering effective friendly cooperation in all fields. The political and commercial cooperation as well as the cooperation in the field of tourism, as you mentioned just now, will all be discussed. I believe that through the visit of President Chaves, the bilateral relations will be further developed, and the cooperation in all fields also become more fruitful.
Q: I know this question may go beyond the competency of the spokesman, but I'm wondering if China will soon respond to the Taiwan "legislative Yuan" elections. Besides, there are reports saying that Chen Shui-bian has resigned as Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party. Which government department should I go for China's comments?
A: The spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office of State Council will preside over a press conference tomorrow. It cannot be more appropriate for you to raise the question to him.
If there are no more questions, let's call it a day. Thank you!
