On the afternoon of December 23, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao presided over a regular press conference.
Liu: Good afternoon, everyone! I'm ready to take up your questions.
Q: President Putin said Russia would strengthen oil cooperation with China. What comment do you have on this?
A: President Putin have said in many occasions that Russia attaches great importance to its energy cooperation with China. Russia keeps to its decision to enhance energy cooperation with China. We appreciate this and hope China and Russia can continue their effective cooperation in the energy field.
Q: As we know, the Canadian embassy in China recently sent dozens of North Koreans within its premises to a third country. What comment do you have on this? What measures will the Chinese side take to deal with the intrusions into foreign missions in China?
A: The Chinese side has repeatedly stated its position towards the illegal NPRK trespassers. We will continue to handle relevant cases in accordance with the domestic and international laws as well as humanitarian principles. The case you mentioned should also be addressed with this principle.
Q: It is reported that US Deputy Secretary of State Armitage talked about China's rise and the Taiwan question during the TV interview of the Public Broadcasting Service, holding that China-US relations were not a "zero-sum" game. He said that it was agreed by all that there's but one China in the world and Taiwan is a part of China. None of the laws obligates the US to defend Taiwan. I wish to hear your comment on this.
A: China and the US should develop constructive and cooperative relations on the basis of the principles in the three joint communiqués between them. The two countries should work together to promote world peace and prosperity.
There is but one China in the world and Taiwan is a part of China. We will continue to uphold the basic principles of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" and strive for the national reunification through peaceful means with our utmost sincerity and efforts. But by no means will we tolerate the "Taiwan independence", nor will we allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China by any means or on any pretext.
Q: A follow-up question on the Anti-Secession Law. China's NPC Standing Committee will start to deliberate on the law in a couple of days. Can you offer any detail of the law? Will it provide for use of force by the mainland if Taiwan declares independence?
A: Given that the law has not been submitted to the NPC yet, I don't have more details to offer you on the law per se. What I want to say is the initiation of legislation on the Anti-Secession Law at China's NPC purely aims to contain "Taiwan independence". We believe the start of the legislation helps maintain the peace, stability and prosperity across the Taiwan Straits and the Asia-Pacific Region. The Chinese Government will adhere as firmly as before to the guideline of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems". We are willing to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with our utmost sincerity and efforts. By no means will we tolerate "Taiwan independence", nor will we allow any force to split Taiwan form China by any means or on any pretext.
Q: Iraqi Foreign Minister Zibari will start his visit to China today. Who will he meet with? What topics will the two sides discuss ? The Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei called in the Japanese ambassador to China Koreshige Anami yesterday and lodged a strong protest against Japan's permission for Li Teng-hui's visit. What measures did the Chinese side expect Japan to take? How did the Japanese side react?
A: Regarding Iraqi Foreign Minister Zibari's visit to China, the visit has just begun. This morning Foreign Minister Zibari met with the Vice Minister of International Department of the CPC Central Committee. Foreign Minister Zibari's visit to China is mainly to exchange views with the Chinese side on China-Iraq relations and international and regional issues of common interest, including China's participation in Iraqi political and economic reconstruction. In addition, I will brief you again on the development of China-Iraq relations for your reference. This February, China sent a task force back to Iraq for the sake of embassay restoration. This July, the embassy was formally restored and this October, China's new ambassador to Iraq Yang Honglin arrived in the country. The new Iraqi ambassador also assumed his office in China this September. Over the past year, officials of Iraqi interim government, such as Rotating Chairman of Iraqi Governing Council Uloom, Electricity Minister Samarraie and Oil Minister Ghadban successively visited China. Zibari's visit further extends the succession of these visits. From January to October this year, the export and import volume between China and Iraq totals over 400 million US dollars. China has provided some assistances to Iraq within its own capacity. With these aids, we have held a number of training courses in succession to Iraq on economy, trade, energy and so on, and promised 100 million worth aids in kind for the Iraqi election. During his visit, Zibari will exchange views with the Chinese side over a number of issues and have some important meetings and talks tomorrow. I will tell you more by then.
As for your second question on the Japanese Government permitting Lee Teng-hui's visit to Japan, On December 2, Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei called in the Japanese ambassador to China Koreshige Anami by order, expressing strong dissatisfaction at and lodged a strong protest on Japanese Government's issuing a visa to facilitate Lee Teng-hui's activities in Japan. Mr.Wu Dawei stated China's stern position on Lee's visit, pointing out Lee Teng-hui is the general representative of drastic forces for "Taiwan Independence" on the Taiwan island and an outright international trouble maker. The Japanese Government shows its connivance at and support to the forces advocating "Taiwan Independence" by permitting Lee Teng-hui's visit , sends them a wrong signal and gravely upsets China-Japan relations. The Japanese side must bear all the consequences arising thereof. Mr. Anami committed to report China' s solemn representations to his government. He reiterated that the Japanese Government adheres to the one China policy. Neither does it support "Taiwan Independence" nor permits Lee Teng-hui to engage in any political activity in Japan.
Q: During his visit to China, will Venezuelan President Chavez meet with Jiang Zemin? Can you brief on the details of the agreements signed by China and Venezuela on oil cooperation? What oil agreements have been signed before? Will there be any new changes in them over the past months? Will the two countries also sign agreements in the fields of culture and education?
A: Probably this is the third or fourth time you ask about President Chavez's visit to China at the press conference. His talks with President Hu Jintao will begin at around five this afternoon. I will brief you on the talks when it finishes. I don't know if you will be present in the Great Hall of the People then. If so, you are welcome to attend the briefing, at which I will tell you more. As to whether Mr. Jiang Zemin will meet with President Chavez, to my knowledge, such an arrangement has been made in Beijing.
Q: Please brief on ROK Minister of National Unification Chung Dong-Young's visit to China. Who will meet with him on the Chinese side? What's in the letter to President Hu Jintao from President Roh Moo-hyun conveyed by him? What message did he ask China to pass to the DPRK?
A: At the invitation of the China's Foreign Ministry, Mr. Chung Dong Young, Special Envoy of the ROK President and Chairman of the Standing Committee of ROK National Security Council, started his visit to China the day before yesterday, which will conclude tomorrow. On December 21, Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Wu Bangguo met with him. Yesterday, he also met with State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan. Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held talks with him. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations, the situation of the Korean Peninsula and other issues of common interest. Both sides agreed to further develop the China-ROK all-round cooperative partnership, continue to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through peace talks, and make efforts to advance the Six-Party Talks. During his visit, Special Envoy Chung Dong Young also met with other officials in charge of other relevant departments, and delivered a speech at Beijing University. Now he is visiting Shanghai.
You just mentioned a letter that he had conveyed to President Hu Jintao from President Roh Moo-hyun. It was conveyed when Chung Dong Young met with Chairman Wu Bangguo. As for the details of the letter, I don't have much information available here.
Q: If there are more snakeheads helping DPRK citizens break into diplomatic missions in the future, will China still permit those people to go to a third country?
A: It should be pointed out first that the illegal migrations into China, and the illegal intrusions into foreign diplomatic missions and schools thereafter, are very serious incidents, which undermine China's social order and stability and threaten the safety of foreign institutions in China. The illegal migrations into China violate China's laws in the first place. Then the intrusions into foreign missions and schools constitute another violation. Some NGOs and individuals instigated, masterminded, or on some occasions, directly organized such activities. On top of that, some governments and foreign missions in China echo with connivance and support. These are the major causes leading to the current array of incidents. We hope these governments to strictly curb the illegal practices of their NGOs and individuals, and the foreign missions to abide by international law and hand over the intruders to the Chinese side instead of granting them asylum, so as to eradicate similar incidents. It also serves the purpose of rooting up the threats on foreign missions and other institutions in China. China will continue to handle relevant cases in accordance with domestic and international law and humanitarian principles.