Kong: Ladies and Gentlemen. Good afternoon. Welcome to today’s Press Conference. You may have heard about the very tragic thing happened in the Republic of Serbia of Serbia Montenegro. The Chinese Government extends its deep sorrow and condolences to the Serbian Government on the tragic assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djinjic. China thinks highly of his contribution to the development of friendly relations and cooperation between China and Serbia Montenegro. We have always condemned and opposed to any form of terrorism, hoping and believing that Serbia Montenegro can maintain its stability and development.

Yesterday morning, a man claiming to hold explosives broke into the Beijing Office of the Reuters. Upon receiving call, the police rushed to the site immediately, took effective safety measures and got the man under control in a short period of time. Journalists and staff members of the Reuters were shocked but no life was at risk because those explosives were fake. I’d like to extend sympathy to those who work for the Reuters there.

We have with us today a large press delegation from the Capital to visit our Ministry and observe our Press Conference. On behalf of the Department of Information, I’d like to extend to them a warm welcome.

Q: What’s your comment on the British six-point proposal on Iraq?
A: We have taken note of the relevant remarks of Britain. China has always stressed that Iraq mustn’t possess weapons of massive destruction. We have always held the Iraqi question must be solved politically. The top priority is to continue and enhance inspection so as to implement earnestly Resolution 1441 of the Security Council.

Q: We’ve learnt that the US has proposed to hold a special meeting of the Security Council on Korean nuclear issue, which China has declined to attend. Please confirm.
A:My understanding is that the Security Council is having the experts-level discussion on the Korean nuclear issue. China believes that US-DPRK dialogue is still the key to the issue. Therefore we hope that various parties can contribute to that end. In the mean time, we also believe that it’s not appropriate for the Security Council to get involved at the current stage.

Q: Will China attend the experts-level meeting? Are those experts from members of the Security Council?
A: So far as I know, China is a member of the specialists’ working group.

Q: Do you believe that the Iraqi question has affected China-US relations? Or do you expect the same as before?
A: They are two different issues. On the one hand, China-US relations have maintained a good momentum of development in the past two years. Last year in particular, heads of the two states met on many occasions, reviewing the bilateral ties and planning the future development. When US Secretary of State Powell visited China not long ago, President Jiang met with him and told him the four fundamental experiences in promoting bilateral ties based on many years’ development, which are as follows: we must be far-sighted; enhance mutual trust; respect each other, recognize and respect the differences and properly handle the Taiwan question. We hope that the US can properly handle the sensitive issues in the bilateral relations to ensure steady development of the bilateral ties on a healthy basis.
With respect to Iraq, leaders of China reiterated China’s position to Secretary Powell during his visit, stressing that there are many problems in the world that can never be solved only by use of force. The question of Iraq should be solved through political and diplomatic means within the UN framework in accordance with relevant Security Council’s resolutions. It’s necessary for the two to maintain contact and consultation on certain questions. Whenever disagreement arises, we can exchange views to enhance mutual understanding, as what we are doing in respect of the Iraqi question.

Q: So you are saying the China-US relations are not fundamentally affected? Another question is, according to some reports of Japanese media, China will halt the heavy oil supplies to DPRK for 3 days. Can you confirm this? What’s the reason behind it? Is China pressuring DPRK or passing some political message to it?
A: On your first question, I reckon that I’ve already given you a quite clear answer. Therefore I ‘m not going to repeat it. On the question of the halt of the heavy oil supply, I haven’t heard of such things.

Q: Some TV programmes of western countries have been blocked since the meetings of NPC and CPPCC were held. Is it an interim measure taken by China to ensure the proceeding of the meetings or are there some other reasons?
A: I’ve no idea whether it’s true or not. Everybody can see that there are plenty of reports on China right now, especially those covering the meetings of NPC and CPPCC. I can make inquiries for you on the specific question you mentioned.

Q: Six non-permanent members of the Security Council including Pakistan have been under US pressure to support the new resolution on Iraq. What will China, one of the P Five, suggest them to do?
A: I believe that they can make their own judgment based on the merits of the matter itself. Everybody must have taken note of the two days’ open debate on Iraq in the Security Council yesterday and the day before yesterday. Many countries voiced their opinions. The vast majority of them strongly called for a political and peaceful solution of the question within the UN framework.

Q: The new Pakistani Prime Minister has announced to visit the US starting from 26th. Will he visit Beijing before that?
A: China and Pakistan enjoy very sound relations of good-neighborliness and friendship. I will let you know in due course if he is going to visit China.
　　
Q: Some countries have proposed to give inspection more time. What’s your comment?
A: There are different ideas in connection with inspection. It’s clear that there’s no change of the position of the Chinese Government. We believe that the current weapons inspection of the two UN agencies has made some results and progress, meaning that inspection is necessary and effective. There are certainly some difficulties and problems as well, which requires inspection to continue. We hold that Resolution 1441 must be implemented and enhanced on that basis. In the meantime, we also call for full cooperation of Iraq so as to sort out questions at an early date.

Q: China has repeatedly stressed on enhancing inspection on many occasions. How many more inspectors does China believe there should be? Should the number be doubled or tripled? Does China have any specific idea of enhancement?
A: Foreign Minister Tang clearly noted when he attended a Security Council’s meeting last month that China hopes to see inspection continue and stands ready to provide necessary human and technical assistance. But above all the two agencies of UN should make the decision. If they so require, China will consider positively.

Q: It’s been reported that Foreign Minister Tang will be appointed as the State Councilor and there will be a new Foreign Minister, can you confirm it?
A: I can only tell you four words, have some more patience. You’ll know in two days.

Q: You stressed repeatedly that China is opposed to a new resolution on Iraq. What’s China’s response to Britain’s six-point proposal? How will China oppose it? Will China veto it or abstain?
A: We have taken note of Britain’s proposal. But we believe that the top priority is to continue the implementation of Resolution 1441 unanimously approved by all 15 members of the Security Council. It’s been under implementation and yielded some results hence no need for a new resolution.

Q: China has stressed on many occasions for the continuation of implementing Resolution 1441. Under what condition will China support a new resolution of the war on Iraq?
A: In the first place, there’s no need for a new resolution since its course hasn’t running out. And what we have seen in its implementation tells us that the resolution is effective and should be continued. Secondly, we are in disfavor of the use of force in international affairs. The world we are in is confronted with many complicated questions that cannot be solved only by use of force. We hope that disputes among states can be handled peacefully through diplomatic means in accordance with the purposes of the UN Charter.

Q: Secretary Powell said that Vice President Cheney would visit China in April. Can you tell us how is the visit arranged? Can you update us on this visit? What’s the significance?
A: I briefed you on that on previous press conferences here. The advance party of Vice President Cheney visited China and exchanged views with department in charge on the initial protocol arrangement. I haven’t got any thing new for you. The visit is expected to start in the coming April. As for the visit, Vice President Hu Jingtao extended an invitation to his counterpart last year when he paid a visit to the US at the latter’s invitation. President Jiang and President Bush both agreed to promote exchange of high-level visits and reaffirmed the visiting plan of Vice President Cheney in this spring when they met in Crawford last October. We believe that the frequent exchanges of high-level visits and views between leaders of the two countries on bilateral ties and major international issues are definitely beneficial to building mutual trust and understanding as well as promoting the development of bilateral ties.

Q: Will the new administration of China have any new policies on Taiwan in its future international exchanges?
A: I want to answer your question from two aspects. First of all, on internal affairs of the Taiwan, China has always upheld the One China policy. As the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, I am not in the position to make comment on that. You should refer your question to the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council for an answer to those in connection with relations across the Straits. Secondly, there’s but one China in the world. The position of the Chinese Government has been very clear and won’t change in the least. Both the report of the 16th Party Congress and the Government work report have clear stipulations of the question. In short, the Chinese Government will unswervingly uphold One China Policy as well as press ahead with the economic and cultural exchanges across the Straits. Thirdly, we will implement earnestly the principle of resting our hope on the people of Taiwan. Fourthly, we will unite compatriots on both sides of the Straits to join their hands to promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. During the process, we require all the countries having diplomatic ties with China to implement the One China policy and handle their relations with Taiwan properly.

Q: China is against the use of force on Iraq while as the US insists on doing so. Will China-US relationship be affected?
A: I’ve actually answered similar questions. China has always advocated handling international affairs in accordance with the purposes of UN Charter whose second article has clearly provided that members should settle their disputes by peaceful and diplomatic means with a view to safeguarding world peace. China actively advocated for a mutually beneficial and cooperative new concept of security based on equality and mutual trust. All countries should devote themselves to creating a favorable international security environment.