On 21 January, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhang Qiyue held a regular press conference.

Q: What is you comment on the UN Security Council Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Counter Terrorism? What proposals did Foreign Minister Tang put forward? Whom did he meet with?

A: The international campaign on counter terrorism has registered considerable progress after the 11 September Incident, but terrorist attacks still happen， which threatens international and regional peace and security. To further strengthen international cooperation on counter terrorism is the common aspiration and urgent demand of the international community.

China has always supported the leading role of the UN and its Security Council on counter terrorism.  The UN Security Council Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Counter Terrorism on 20 January reviewed the international cooperation on counter terrorism after 11 September Incident, set the direction of the work in next step and formulated specific measures. The meeting also adopted Final Declaration in the form of resolution, which is of important significance to create a favorable environment to strengthened international cooperation on counter terrorism.

The Chinese side attached great importance to the meeting and Foreign Minister Tang especially adjusted his agenda in Africa to attend it in New York. He expounded the principled stand and proposals of the Chinese Government on counter terrorism by combining the current international situation in his speech and stressed that to maintain peace and security of the mankind is the core of counter terrorism, to develop and prosper together being the basis, to strengthen contact and integration of different cultures being the safeguards, and to promote and deepen international cooperation being the key.  

During the meeting Foreign Minister Tang met with UN Secretary General Annan and exchanged views with him on strengthened role of the UN in counter terrorism and the settlement of regional disputes. Tang also met with his counterparts of the US, Russia, Germany and Pakistan and discussed with them on bilateral relations and issues of common interest.

Q: Does the Chinese side support the “three-step” package put forward by Russia to solve the DPRK nuclear question? Does the Chinese side support the demand of the DPRK to sign a legal document with the US to ensure its security?

A: Russia Vice Foreign Minister Losukov introduced the position of the Russian side on the DPRK nuclear question during his meeting with the officials of the Foreign Ministry last week. He has currently finished his visit in the DPRK and will arrive in Beijing today. Vice Foreign Minister Yang Wenchang will meet with him this afternoon and further exchange views on the DPRK nuclear question. In summary, we adopt a positive attitude to all the efforts conducive to peace and stability and denucleariztion of the Korean peninsula. The Chinese side has close consultation with all the sides concerned and is willing to play a constructive role on its settlement.

On your second question, we hope that all the parties concerned can, proceeding from the overall picture of maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula, solve the current tension earlier through dialog.

Q: Please introduce the consultation between Under Secretary Bolton and the Chinese side. Was the Taiwan question mentioned? When and where will the next round be held? How do you characterize the current round?

A: Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya and US Under Secretary Bolton held yesterday in Beijing the first round of China-US consultation on strategic security, multilateral arms control and non-proliferation at the vice foreign ministerial level. The two sides held an in-depth exchange of views on wide range of issues including the current situation on counter terrorism, strategic stability, international arms control, non-proliferation, Iraqi question, DPRK nuclear question and south Asian situation. It was held according to the consensus reached between the two heads of states of China and the US. Both sides agreed that China and the US have more common interest than difference in international situation, arms control and non-proliferation and that they should strengthen cooperation and coordination under the new situation and work together to maintain global and regional peace and security. They expressed their satisfaction towards the result of the consultation and maintained that such consultation will help enhance mutual understanding and expand consensus. The next round will be held in the second half of this year in the US and the specific time will be decided later.

Deputy Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxin met with Bolton yesterday and they held an in-depth exchange of views on China-US relations and international issues of common interest. They both agreed that the consultation this time was constructive and fruitful.

Q： Do you think it is the time to hand the DPRK nuclear question to the UN Security Council?

A: We have always stood for peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. All the parties should proceed from this overall situation and solve the current stalemate through dialog. The priority at this stage is to promote the resumption of dialog between the parties concerned.

Q: How does China view the demonstrations across the world to protest the possible US attack against Iraq?

A: On the Iraqi question, we stand for political and diplomatic solution within the UN framework. Iraq should observe relevant UN Security Council resolution in full and in real earnest. We support the efforts of the international community to solve the question politically.

Q: The IAEA might submit the DPRK nuclear question to the UN Security Council for discussion. Will China take measures to prevent it from being putting to the Security Council?

A: We have always worked with the parties concerned to promote the settlement of the question through dialog.

Q: Are there any high level officials from the DPRK currently in Beijing to discuss the DPRK nuclear question with the Chinese side?

A: The Chinese side has always kept contact with the parties concerned including the DPRK.

Q: Please introduce something about the Japanese woman Hirasima Kudeko who came into China illegally from the DPRK. When will you hand her to the Japanese side?

A: I have answered the question last Friday. According to my knowledge, the public security department in China seized the two kidnappers of Kudeko on 15 January. The preliminary investigation showed that they had the ROK passports. Kudeko is safe now but her identity needs to be verified since she came into China illegally. The case is being investigated at present.

Q: Under Secretary Bolton said yesterday that the Chinese side did not show opposition to handing the DPRK nuclear question to the UN Security Council. Does the Chinese side think it the best way out to hand it to the Security Council? Or stand for dialog between the DPRK and the US?

A: As to whether to hand the question to the UN Security Council, we maintain that the parties concerned should handle it by proceeding from the overall picture of maintaining peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.

Relevant parties have said that the question is not just between the US and the DPRK. Of course the question has aroused extensive concern from the international community but from the current situation, the US and the DPRK should resume dialog as soon as possible in order to solve the DPRK nuclear question. So we call for dialog between the parties concerned to solve the question instead of taking measures that will further complicate the situation.

Q: Does the Chinese side think that it will complicate the question if it is handed to the Security Council? What is the precondition if China is to agree? Is China unwilling to see economic sanction imposed on the DPRK?

A: I have said just now that we maintain that efforts should be made at this stage to push for the resumption of direct dialog between the parties concerned. Dialog is the most effective way to solve the question.

Q: Foreign Minister Tang said recently that the UN weapon inspectors need more time. Does it mean to have more time to find nuclear weapons or more time to solve the Iraqi question through diplomatic means?

A: Minister Tang made it clear to the correspondents in New York that we should respect the opinions of the UN weapon inspectors and that if they think more time is needed to inspect and to make judgment on questions concerning Iraq then the members of the Security Council should respect. We think that in the past one month or more, the UN inspectors have inspected over 100 sites in Iraq and the inspection is on the whole smooth. Their work should continue. As to whether Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, we think that no conclusion should be jumped at now. Members of the Security Council are waiting for the report put forward by the inspectors and the Security Council will further review the question.

Q: Minister Tang also expressed in New York that the DPRK nuclear question should be solved through dialog and that the Chinese side did not rule out any constructive options. Does it mean that the Chinese side does not rule out the possibility of submitting it to the Security Council?

A: At present there is frequent diplomatic maneuvering on the question and the parties concerned have put forward many suggestions and plans. The Chinese side adopts a positive attitude to any suggestions that are conducive to maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula. As to which way to take to solve the crisis at this stage, we think that dialog is only effective way out. As a result, under the current situation, the parties concerned should solve the question as soon as possible through direct dialog.

Q: It is often reported that China and the DPRK are the closest allies. Then what responsibility does the Chinese side shoulder on the DPRK nuclear question?

A: China and the DPRK are friendly and close neighbors. Bilateral relations have been developed smoothly. The two sides have normal and close exchange and often keep consultation on issues of common interest.

Q: The US is bent on taking military actions against Iraq that has no nuclear weapons and on the other hand, only shows security concern over the DPRK that might have nuclear weapons. Does the Chinese side think it contradiction on the US handling of the two questions?

A: I think your question is more suitable to be answered by scholars. As to our position, China stands for political and diplomatic solution of the Iraqi question within the UN framework; and on the DPRK nuclear question, we stand for peace and stability and denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and dialog to solve the relevant question..