Source: fmprc.gov.cn
On the afternoon of September 2, 2010, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Yu held a regular press conference and answered questions.
Jiang Yu: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have three announcements to start with.
At the invitation of President Hu Jintao, Chairman Than Shwe of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar will pay a state visit to China from September 7 to 11.
Premier Wen Jiabao will attend and address the Opening Ceremony of the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2010 (also known as the “Summer Davos”) in Tianjin on September 13.
Thomas Donilon, Deputy Assistant to the US President for National Security Affairs, and Lawrence Summers, Director of the White House National Economic Council, will visit China from September 5 to 8. The two sides will have an in-depth exchange of views on China-US relations and other major issues of common interest.
Now the floor is open.
Q: It is reported that Palestine and Israel will hold direct peace talks in the US today. What is your comment?
A: China welcomes direct talks between Palestine and Israel. It is hoped that the two sides will grasp the opportunity and actively push forward the negotiations with a conscientious and pragmatic attitude so as to make positive progress at an early date.
Q: During DPRK leader Kim Jong Il’s visit to China, was his son Kim Jong Eun among his entourage?
A: Competent Chinese authorities have released detailed information on General Secretary Kim Jong Il’s visit to China. China and the DPRK have the tradition of exchanging high-level visits. It is in the interest of all parties that China and the DPRK exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of common interest, with a view to promoting bilateral relations and maintaining peace and stability of Northeast Asia. The press release published by the Chinese side listed his entourage on this visit.
Q: Can you provide more details on Than Shwe’s visit to China, such as where he is going, what topics will be discussed, whether any agreements will be signed and whether the general election in Myanmar will be discussed?
A: President Hu Jintao will hold talks with Chairman Than Shwe, and Premier Wen Jiabao will meet with him during his visit. Aside from Beijing, Chairman Than Shwe will visit the Shanghai World Expo and Shenzhen. China and Myanmar will take advantage of the high-level visit to review the development of bilateral relations, brief each other on their respective domestic situation and development concepts, and have an in-depth exchange of views on strengthening bilateral good-neighborly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation as well as international and regional issues of common interest. We believe that the visit will contribute to closer bilateral traditional friendship as well as regional peace and development.
As regards your question on whether any cooperation agreements will be signed during the visit, I haven’t heard of any such thing so far. Information on major events of the visit will be released in due course.
With regard to the general election in Myanmar, a peaceful, stable and progressing Myanmar is in the interest of the Myanmese people and the common interest of regional peace and prosperity. China hopes that the general election in Myanmar will proceed smoothly so as to constantly promote democracy and development.
Q: Can you brief us on the latest developments of China’s assistance to Pakistan’s flood-stricken areas?
A: As Pakistan's close neighbor and all-weather friend, China empathizes with Pakistan for its severe natural disaster. The Chinese Government has offered several installments of humanitarian relief supplies worth more than RMB 100 million. The Chinese People's Liberation Army, the Red Cross Society of China, local governments and Chinese enterprises provided different forms of assistance as well. An international relief team sent by the Chinese Government has arrived in the hardest-hit southern part of Pakistan and set up a mobile hospital which is in operation now.
China has provided sincere and timely assistance to Pakistan without any strings attached. We will continue to offer support as much as we can to Pakistan based on its needs, with a view to helping the Pakistani Government and people to overcome difficulties and rebuild homes.
Q: According to reports, China recently refused to grant a visa to Lieutenant General Jaswal, head of Indian Army’s Northern Command, and the Indian side said the refusal was about the Kashmir issue. Do you have any comment? What’s China’s position over the Kashmir issue? And what’s China’s visa policy towards residents of the Indian-held Kashmir region?
A: Relevant media reports are inconsistent with the facts, as is checked with relevant authorities.
The Kashmir issue is an issue left over by history between India and Pakistan. As a neighboring country and friend to both India and Pakistan, China always holds that the Kashmir issue should be properly handled through dialogue and consultation between India and Pakistan.
China’s visa policy towards the residents of Indian-held Kashmir is consistent and remains unchanged.
Q: I have two questions. First, it is reported that two Filipinos will be put to death this month for drug trafficking and the Philippines hoped that the execution can be put off for further investigation. What’s China’s stance? Second, Vice Premier Li Keqiang reportedly canceled his visit to the Philippines originally due in September because of the recent hostage incident. Do you have any comment?
A: For your first question, I’ll come back to you after consulting with relevant authorities.
For the second question, relevant remarks aren’t true. Vice Premier Li Keqiang had already postponed his plan to visit the Philippines due to his domestic work arrangement.
Q: Is China disappointed with the US position over resuming the Six-Party Talks?
A: China always holds that international disputes should be resolved through dialogue and consultation. At present, the situation on the Korean Peninsula is complicated and sensitive, thus we hope relevant parties exercise calmness and restraint, meet each other half way, and do more to improve bilateral ties and ease the tensions rather than the contrary.
Safeguarding peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and achieving denuclearization and long-lasting peace on the Peninsula serves the common interest of all parties. The Six-Party Talks is a useful platform towards that goal. Under the current circumstances, relevant parties should enhance communication and coordination and make joint efforts to create conditions for the resumption of the Talks.
Q: Special Representative Wu Dawei of the Chinese Government for the Korean Peninsula Affairs held talks with the US side yesterday. Could you brief us on the meeting? Given the recent visits to the US by both Chinese and ROK chief negotiators of the Six-Party Talks, will China put forward new proposals for the resumption of the Talks?
A: As you’ve noted, Special Representative Wu Dawei of the Chinese Government for the Korean Peninsula Affairs is now in the US for a visit. Prior to that, he had been to the DPRK, ROK and Japan, and he will go to Russia after that. The delegation will release relevant information on his trip to the US. The purpose of Special Representative Wu Dawei’s visit is to communicate with other parties and heed others’ opinions over the current situation on the Korean Peninsula and resumption of the Six-Party Talks, among other issues.
All parties agree that promoting the Six-Party Talks and safeguarding peace and stability of the Peninsula is in the common interest of all parties. We hope relevant parties make joint efforts to bring the Korean Peninsular and Northeast Asian issues back to the track of political resolution through dialogue and consultation. We will fully exchange views with other parties on the specifics.
Q: Reports said that a Chinese fishing boat was sunk by an ROK cargo ship off the western waters of the ROK yesterday. Are there any latest developments? Is there any information on the crew and ownership of the boat?
A: As notified by the ROK Coast Guard, at 11:50 a.m. on September 1, a could-be Chinese fishing boat was hit and sunk by an ROK cargo ship in waters off the ROK coast in the northeast part of the Yellow Sea. All crew members went missing with the name of the boat and the number of the crew on board unknown. After the accident, the Chinese Embassy in the ROK urged the ROK to spare no efforts in the rescue operation. The ROK Coast Guard sent police vessels and helicopters to the scene. However, no development has been made so far due to the bad weather.
At present, relevant Chinese authorities are verifying the information of the boat and the crew, and meanwhile, coordinating nearby vessels to take part in the rescue work. Up till now, the details of the boat and the people on board are still unavailable.
Q: First, will Prince Andrew of Britain visit China shortly? Please confirm and brief us on his itinerary. Second, it is reported that former US President Jimmy Carter will visit China shortly. Please update us on the date and itinerary of his visit.
A: At the invitation of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, Prince Andrew, the second son of the British Queen and the UK’s Special Representative for International Trade and Investment will visit China from September 2 to 11. During his visit, Prince Andrew will meet with leaders of the State Council, leading officials of competent Chinese authorities and entrepreneurs to exchange views on expanding UK-China trade. Prince Andrew will also attend the UK National Pavilion Day of the Shanghai World Expo as head of the British delegation.
In recent years, China-UK economic relations and trade have enjoyed good momentum of growth, huge cooperation potential and bright prospects. We believe Prince Andrew’s visit will help Britain better understand China’s policies and environment of trade and investment in order to expand China-UK cooperation in such areas.
At the invitation of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, former US President Jimmy Carter will visit Beijing, Shanghai and Hunan Province from September 5 to 10, and attend the 2010 International Sister Cities Conference and the Fourth China (Zhijiang) International Peace Culture Festival.
Q: Please update us on the latest developments of the hostage issue in the Philipines.
A: After the incident, China has made clear its position to the Philipines many times through different channels. We demand the Philippine side to investigate the case thoroughly, communicate with us the results as soon as possible and properly handle the aftermath. We urge the Philippine side to take concrete measures to ensure the safety of life and property of Chinese nationals in the Philipines. At present, competent authorities of the Central Government of China and the Hong Kong SAR Government have stayed in communication and cooperation with the Philippine side on relevant affairs.
Q: Please update us on the attendance of the Summer Davos in Tianjin.
A: Premier Wen Jiabao will attend and address the opening ceremony of the forum. Up till now, 1,451 people have registered to attend the forum. Foreign leaders who have confirmed attendance include: President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Prime Minister of Moldova Vlad Filat, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Michael Somare, Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Arthur Mutambara, Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia Miyeegombyn Enkhbold, Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria Simeon Djankov and Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia Keat Chhon.
The theme of this forum is “Driving Growth through Sustainability”. We hope this forum will fully play its role as “a weather vane of the world economy”, send a positive message to the world and call on the international community to push for reform through coordination and innovation in order to jointly seek a strong, sustainable and balanced growth of the world economy. At the same time, we hope the forum will focus more on the development issue and promote international cooperation on development.
If there are no more questions, thank you for coming. See you!
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