On the afternoon of December 7, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue presided over a regular press conference.
Zhang: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to begin with three statements.
At the invitation of the Government of the Kyrghyz Republic, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan will pay an official visit to the Kyrghyz Republic from December 9th to 10th, 2004.
At the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao, Shaukat Aziz, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, will pay an official visit to China from December 14th to 18th, 2004.
At the invitation of Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Jose Ramos-Horta, Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, will visit China from December 13th to 15th, 2004. During his visit, Mr. Jose Ramos-Horta will preside over the inauguration of the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in China.
Now I'm ready to take up your questions.
Q: Italian President Ciampi and the Italian Foreign Minister are visiting China. Did China and Italy discuss Italy's reform proposal on the UN Security Council? What's China's position? What does the Chinese side expect the China-EU Summit to achieve on lifting of EU arms embargo against China?
A: Italian President Ciampi is paying a state visit to China now. Yesterday, President Hu Jintao held talks with Ciampi and put forward suggestions on developing China-Italy relations. The two sides reached broad consensus on further development of mutually-beneficial cooperation and exchanged views on international issues of common interest.
Leaders and foreign ministers of the two sides also touched upon the UN reform in their talks. On this issue, the Chinese side welcomes the report on UN reform proposed by the High-level Panel appointed by UN Secretary Annan and supports the UN reform and its stronger role in safeguarding the world peace and promoting common development. All parties should conduct in-depth discussions on relevant issues through wide consultations. The Chinese side will make a careful study of this report and expects to exchange views with other countries in an in-depth manner over this issue.
As for your second question, Premier Wen Jiabao and the EU leaders will jointly attend the seventh China-EU Summit held in Hague, Netherlands. Right now, China-EU relations have reached a unprecedented high in terms of both scope and depth. Both sides share the aspiration to further enhance our friendly and cooperative relations in various fields and attach great importance to this meeting. Premier Wen Jiabao will also attend the China-EU Business Summit and the signing ceremony of cooperation agreements on economy, trade, science and technology, the customs, education and other fields.
During their meetings, leaders of both sides will touch upon the lifting of EU arms embargo on China. China has a clear-cut position on this issue. The EU arms embargo is incompatible with the all-round development of China-EU relations. China hopes the EU leaders and their member states to make an early and right political decision. After his talks with German Federal Chancellor Schroeder yesterday, Premier Wen Jiabao pointed out that EU cooperation should be based on mutual respect and trust. So we require EU to lift arms embargo on China at an early date.
Q: What kinds of issues will Pakistani Prime Minister Aziz discuss with Chinese leaders in his upcoming visit to China? What importance does this visit have on China-Pakistan relations? Will the two sides some agreements this time?
Pakistani Prime Minister Aziz will pay an official visit to China from December 14th to 18th. . During his visit, Prime Minister Aziz will hold talks with Premier Wen jiabao and meet with other Chinese leaders to discuss relevant issues on further enhancing bilateral cooperation. Besides Beijing, Prime Minister Aziz will visit Shanghai.
China and Pakistan are traditional friendly neighbors. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, both sides have always treated each other with mutual respect, trust and support and established an all-weather friendship and an all-round cooperative partnership. We are convinced Primer Minister Aziz's upcoming visit will further enhance China-Pakistan traditional friendship and promote our mutually-beneficial cooperation in all fields. We are looking forward to Prime Minister Aziz's visit.
Q: Why do you call the EU arms embargo on China a discriminative act? Why does China have so much concern over this issue if it doesn't want to buy weapons from the EU? Why shouldn't this issue be linked with the Human Rights issue? When will China ratify the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights?
A: The arms embargo, as a leftover from the Cold War, lasting 15 years, has impeded further and comprehensive development of China-EU relations. We think it is high time to end such discrimination. It is the decision is nowhere equally applied to every country that we call it a political discrimination.
Furthermore, we have reiterated many times that our requirement for the EU to lift the arms embargo doesn't aim to buy massive weapons from the EU. China has neither the capacity nor the intention to do so. We consider it a political and principled issue. China hopes the EU to proceed from the overall interest of China-EU relations and lift such discriminative decision against China at an early date.
China has repeatedly stated its firm opposition of linking the arms embargo removal with the human rights issue. The great progress China has achieved in human rights is obvious to all. In fact, China and EU have conducted dialogues in human rights. Due to differences in social systems, levels of development and historical and cultural backgrounds, it is natural for the two sides to have different opinions on human rights. These problems can be explored and resolved within the framework of human rights dialogues. As a matter of fact, the 18 rounds of human rights dialogues already conducted between China and EU have made great headway. Therefore, human rights issue doesn't count as an excuse for arms embargo on China, even less should the two issues be linked.
Regarding when China will approve the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, China has over these years joined in nearly all major international conventions on human rights. For instance, we have joined and ratified International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and entered in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. China has now been studying how to ratify the Covenant and established a special task force. I think the great efforts China has made on this issue have won universal recognition from the international community.
Q: Yesterday Chen Shuibian talked about his plan to replace the name of all of Taiwan's overseas agencies with "Taiwan Representative Office" and the name of " Republic of China" in the public sector with " Taiwan". What reaction does China have on these "petty tricks " Chen has played?
A: Generally, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson doesn't comment on some people's statements or remarks in Taiwan. I just want to point out that there is but one China. Any party or individuals attempting to create "One China, One Taiwan" or "Two Chinas" in international community are doomed to failure, nor will they gain popularity.
Q: The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has been adopted by World Health Organization and ratified by 40 countries. Why hasn't China signed the convention? As for the next round of Six-Party Talks, could you predict the date of meeting? How are the consultations going on? My third question is, has China-Japan relations entered a new stage after the meetings between high-level leaders of both sides shortly ago? How will the relations develop?
A: As for the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, what you have mentioned doesn't quite tally with the truth. The Chinese government has always held a positive attitude towards this convention and constructively participated in the process of its conclusion, and signed the convention on November 10th, 2003. Now it is undergoing relevant domestic legal procedures.
We have noticed that the convention has been ratified by 40 countries and is to come into force in February next year. This major event in the public health field has demonstrated not only the support and recognition from the international community for the convention and the cause of tobacco control, but also solidarity and cooperation of all countries on this issue.
The Chinese government also attaches great importance to the convention. We have not only participated in its drafting process, but also domestically conducted positive propaganda and control work. I think our government will actively go in for anything beneficial to the people's health. Right now, active efforts are being made to push forward the ratification procedures.
As for the Six-Party Talks, I have repeated introduced China's position. China has made efforts in all ways to push forward the next round of Six-Party Talks at an early date. The work in this field is always underway without any stop. We hope to maintain the process of Six-Party Talks to enable the peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula via dialogues. Such a process conforms to interests of all parties concerned. We hope all parties concerned to further display their flexibility and sincerity and reach an early consensus on the resumption of Six-Party Talks. The specific date for the next round of Six-Party Talks is yet to be decided, but all parties concerned are making intense efforts in consultations and coordination.
Regarding China-Japan relations, Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Koizumi held a bilateral meeting on the sideline of the 10+3 meeting in Laos. This is another important high-level contact since the previous meeting between President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Koizumi on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Chili. We think such high-level meetings are of great importance to the improvement and development of our bilateral relations. We hope both sides can cherish the fruits of the meeting between leaders of two countries and promote further improvement and development of bilateral relations.
Q: Chen Shuibian suggested that all "overseas missions" of Taiwan should be renamed as "Taiwan Representative Office". A couple of hours ago, the US Department of State made an statement, announcing that they do not support such a move by the Taiwanese side to unilaterally change Taiwan's status quo. Does the mainland approve of the US statement? In addition, what does the Foreign Ministry know about the incident of the Chinese Ambassador to Vanuatu being pushed?
A: I have noticed the recent statement of the US side. Shortly ago, the spokesman of the US State Department reaffirmed again the US commits itself to the one China policy and the three Sino-US Joint Communiqués. It opposes "Taiwan independence" and words or deeds of the Taiwan authorities in an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo of Taiwan. We welcome the statement made by the US Government in this regard. The remarks of some people in Taiwan, which you talked about just now, only proved once more that the splittist activities of the "pro-independence forces" in Taiwan are the root causes of the tension across the Straits and the top threat to the peace across Taiwan Straits as well as the stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific Region.
On your second question, the Chinese Ambassador to Vanuatu has given a detailed account.
Q: It is reported today that the US will send a special envoy to China to promote the Six-Party Talks. Can you offer some details? Recently, China Aviation Oil Corp. faces a major problem in its securities speculation in Singapore. The passports of four Chinese in charge were taken away. What's China's response to this?
A: As far as I know, the US Special Envoy on the Korean Affairs is visiting Beijing. His visit, mainly for working consultations, will center on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, in particular, the questions related to the Six-Party Talks. During his stay in Beijing, Vice Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs Cui Tiankai and Chinese Ambassador in Charge of the Korean Peninsular Issue Ning Fukui will meet with him. The two sides will basically exchange views on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and on how to resolve it through the mechanism of the Six-Party Talks.
On your second question, I don't have any clue.
Q: It is learned that Foreign Ministry dispatched an assistant minister to attend the inaugural ceremony of Afghan president in the capacity of the Chinese Government's special envoy. Can you brief us on that?
A: Today, Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui attended the inauguration of Afghan President Karzai in Kabul. He arrived in Kabul two days in advance and respectively met with founding father and former King of Afghanistan Zahir Shah, Vice President of the Interim Government Karim Halili and Foreign Minister Abudullah Abudullah.
The Afghan side attaches importance to Special Envoy Li Hui's visit, saying that the fact that the Chinese Government sent a special envoy to Afghanistan for the presidential inauguration demonstrated once more China values Afghanistan's peace process and China-Afghanistan relations.
China supports the peace process and the post-war reconstruction of Afghanistan. We are pleased to see positive progress has been made in its reconstruction work and believe that with the joint efforts of the new government and the Afghan people, this country will eventually attain lasting peace and economic development.
Q: Pakistani President Musharraf respectively met with American President Bush and British Prime Minister Blair this week. The three sides decided to enhance anti-terrorism cooperation and stressed that one of the root causes of terrorism is such political conflicts as Kashmir disputes and Palestine-Israel conflicts, which have to be resolved if terrorism is to be eradicated. How does China view this idea?
A: International terrorism, as the common enemy of the international community, poses a major threat to world peace and development. All countries should step up cooperation and coordination in jointly combating terrorism. China holds a clear-cut position on the issue. We firmly oppose terrorism in any form and believe it demands comprehensive approaches to thoroughly root out terrorism. Only by multi-fold measures that address the political, economic and social fields can we crush the hotbed of terrorism. We are ready to cooperate with other countries in striking terrorism.
Q: The German Federal Chancellor is visiting China. Please offer details of his visit.
A: Regarding Chancellor Schroeder's visit to China, the press has covered much about his yesterday activities. This morning, Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Wu Bangguo met with Chancellor Schroeder, and President Hu Jintao will meet with him this afternoon. The two sides will hold an economic symposium. After concluding his visit to Beijing, Chancellor Schroeder will head for Changchun. Tomorrow, the two sides will also hold a roundtable discussion on trade and economic cooperation between the three Chinese northeast provinces and Germany. It is fair to say his visit is a brief one, yet with rich arrangements.
Follow-up: When Chancellor Schroeder met with President Hu Jintao, did they talk about the enlargement of the Security Council? If yes, did they touch upon Japan's new permanent membership in the Security Council?
A: President Hu Jintao and Chancellor Schroeder just began their talk. Therefore, I haven't got what's going on in their meeting. Please follow the reports after their meeting.
Q: China has repeatedly expressed its hope for an early opening of a fresh round of the Six-Party Talks. However, the process of the Talks has come to a halt. Do you sense any urgency in this matter? Does China have a deadline? Do you think it is in crisis now?
A: Indeed, when last round of the Six-Party Talks ended, all parties reached a consensus that the next round of Talks should be held by the end of September. But due to the reasons known to all, a new round of the Talks is still in the air up to this point. However, China's position remains unchanged despite of this. We still hope to carry on the momentum of the Six-Party Talks and open a new round as early as possible. China has been making positive efforts to this end. All parties concerned share consensus on resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through the Six-Party Talks. We hope all parties to show their utmost flexibility and sincerity and maintain the momentum of the Talks through consultation and coordination in various forms.
Follow-up: Is the issue becoming more complicated or being resolved step by step? Is China feeling more and more uneasy about it?
As early as at the start of the Six-Party Talks, we emphasized on many occasions that the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula was very complicated and could only be resolved through patient dialogue and negotiation instead of at one stroke. All parties believe that the Six-Party Talks is at present the only feasible and effective mechanism for dialogue and peace talks, within the framework of which, all of us should continue our efforts. People may feel impatient with the progress of the Six-Party Talks, deeming no much progress made. But if we look back at the situation prior to or at the initial stage of the Talks, it is not hard to see important progress has been achieved on this issue. We think such progress and sound momentum should be continued.
Thank you!