On the afternoon of September 8, 2011, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Weimin held a regular press conference.

Q: It was reported that a Russian passenger plane crashed on September 7. What is China's comment?

A: China expresses deep condolences and sincere solicitude on the heavy casualties caused by the plane crash in Russia. Premier Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi have sent messages of condolences to the Russian side respectively.

Q: An explosion outside the High Court building in New Delhi, capital of India on September 7 killed and injured a lot. What is China's comment?

A: China condemns the explosion, conveys sincere solicitude to the bereaved families and the wounded and expresses condolences to those victims.

Q: The EU Chamber of Commerce in China issued a report today, calling for more reforms in China's industrial sector so as to embrace more foreign investments and realize the goals set in the 12th Five-Year Plan. How does China respond? The President of the Chamber also stated that according to Chinese officials, the RMB would become fully convertible at the final phase of the 12th Five-Year Plan. What is China's comment?

A: China sticks to reform and opening up, upholds the win-win strategy of opening up, expands market access and facilitates investments in accordance with well-recognized international economic rules. Thanks to the development of China's open economy, foreign investors in China will be granted with more room and profitable returns. I did not see the EU Chamber of Commerce's report, but I am certain that China will continue improving its investment environment unswervingly.

On your second question, China adopts a managed floating exchange rate regime, which serves the long-term and fundamental interests of China. Since the further reform of the RMB exchange rate regime in June last year, China has attached weight to adjusting the exchange rate on the basis of market supply and demand with reference to a basket of currencies. The flexibility of the RMB has been remarkably improved.

We are firm in advancing the RMB exchange rate reform and will gradually increase the flexibility of the RMB exchange rate under the principle of independent decision-making, controllability and gradual progress, with a view to keeping the RMB basically stable at an adaptive and equilibrium level.

Q: US permanent representative to the UN looked forward to further explanation from the Chinese side on the contact between personnel from the Chinese companies and the Gaddafi regime. How does China respond?

A: We have provided sufficient information to you on this issue. I want to emphasize that the Chinese Government strictly follows Resolutions 1970 and 1973 of the UN Security Council. We adopt a prudent and responsible attitude and exercise strict management over all military exports in accordance with China's international obligations as well as domestic laws and regulations. All military exports should go through stringent examination and approval of the Chinese Government.

Q: The Philippine Government reportedly said that it would not, for the moment, submit the South China Sea issue to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for arbitration. What is China's comment?

A: Philippine President Aquino paid a successful visit to China recently. The two sides reached extensive consensus on the further development of bilateral friendly relations of cooperation. It is true that China and the Philippines have disputes over the South China Sea, but it is not what the bilateral relationship is all about. China's position on the South China Sea issue is clear-cut and consistent. China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters. China also maintains that the South China Sea dispute shall be peacefully resolved through bilateral consultation and negotiation between directly concerned parties. Pending the final settlement, relevant countries should shelve the disputes and positively discuss joint development in relevant waters, which serves the common interest of the countries concerned.

Q: Given the EU's sanction against Syria's oil export, Syria yesterday expressed its willingness to resell the oil to Russia and China. Does China welcome such an act?

A: China holds that it is imperative for all parties in Syria to discard violence, swiftly launch an inclusive political process led by Syria and appropriately address problems through dialogue and consultation in a bid to ease the tensions there. Relevant actions of the international community should be conducive to this end. Constant pressure and sanctions only complicate the problem.

China and Syria have normal energy cooperation.

Q: ConocoPhillips announced recently that it was setting up a fund to address the consequences of the oil spill in Bohai Bay. How do you respond? Will the incident cause a negative impact on China-US relations?

A: Please refer to competent Chinese authorities for an authoritative answer as this is not a diplomatic issue. Relevant authorities are properly handling the matter and there is no need to politicize it.

Q: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said recently that the US should take punitive measures against China over currency manipulation. How do you comment?

A: As countries of major influence in the world, China and the US not only shoulder important responsibilities but also face great challenges. A sound China-US relationship serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples and is a necessary requirement for world peace and development. During Vice President Biden's recent successful visit to China, the two sides reached a lot of consensus on how to further advance bilateral relations.

China has expounded on many occasions that the RMB exchange rate is not the main cause for bilateral trade imbalance.

Q: Former Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara said recently in the US that China's rise would break stability in Asia Pacific. How do you comment?

A: As an important member of Asia Pacific, China, along with other countries, shoulders the important task of safeguarding regional prosperity and stability. Facts have proven that China's independent foreign policy of peace as well as reform and opening up play a constructive part in this regard.

China pursues the path of peaceful development and a win-win strategy of opening up, upholds a good-neighborly policy of friendship and partnership with surrounding countries, and stands ready to develop friendly cooperation with all Asia-Pacific countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, with a view to building a regional environment of peace, stability, equality, mutual trust on an equal footing and win-win cooperation.

Liu Weimin finally referred to the Post-Pacific Islands Forum Dialogue. He said that on September 9, local time, Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai would attend on behalf of the Chinese Government the 23rd Post-Pacific Islands Forum Dialogue in Auckland, New Zealand upon invitation.

As this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Pacific Islands Forum, China attaches great importance to relations with the Forum and its members, stands ready to develop cooperative ties with all island countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and provides assistance to them to the best of its capacity.

China is willing to make the Dialogue a positive contribution to peace, stability and development of Pacific island countries.