On 3 April Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Jianchao held a regular press conference.

Liu started by announcing that at the invitation of Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi of Japan will visit China from April 6th to 8th and exchange views with the Chinese side on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common interest.

Q: During Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi’s visit in China, which Chinese leaders will meet with her apart from Tang Jianxuan and Li Zhaoxin? How will the two foreign ministers discuss the DPRK nuclear question and post-war questions concerning Iraq?

A: She will meet with her counterpart Li Zhaoxin while in China. Chinese leaders will also meet with her. The two sides will exchange views on bilateral relations and other issues of common interest. The DPRK nuclear and Iraqi questions will certainly be discussed since they are concerned by both sides. Details of the discussions will be introduced to you at the time.

Q: It has often been reported recently that China has made various efforts to find solution to the DPRK nuclear crisis and that China has persuaded the DPRK to go back to the negotiating table, stop its provocative actions, keep calm and exercise restraint.  I’d like to express my personal thanks to the Chinese Government for its efforts. My first question is when did you meet the DPRK officials and what was their response? Secondly, it is reported that a Chinese Communist Party delegation visited the DPRK and invited its leader Kim Jong-Il to visit China. If the report is true, what is the response of the DPRK? How do you think the DPRK nuclear question will be solved? Peacefully or will meet with other difficulties?

A: The Chinese side has always made its own efforts for the peaceful settlement of the DPRK nuclear question and kept contact with all sides including normal contact channel with the DPRK side. Please forgive me that it is not convenient for me to disclose details to you.

Your second question is about a Chinese Communist Party delegation visiting the DPRK and inviting Chairman Kim Jong-Il to visit China. I have not heard of it.

On your second question, the Chinese side has always promoted peace and stability and supported denuclearization on the Korean peninsula. We have always appealed for dialog to solve the question politically and hoped that relevant sides will show sincerity to start dialog at an early date and solve it peacefully.

Q: Russian Vice Foreign Minister will exchange views with the Chinese side on the Iraqi question. Can you introduce the discussion between the two sides in details? Second question, the Kuwaiti Secretary of Foreign Affairs and State will soon visit China. What is his purpose to come at this key moment?  

A: Russian Vice Foreign Minster Fedotov arrived in Beijing this morning and will have working consultation with the Chinese side on Iraqi question and other issues of common interest. The meeting is yet to begin so I cannot tell you relevant information.

On your second question, at the invitation of China’s Foreign Ministry, the Kuwaiti Secretary of Foreign Affairs and State will visit China from 6 to 7 April and the two sides will exchange views on bilateral relations and the current situation in Iraq.

Follow-up: A delegation of the Kuwaiti Development Bank will soon visit China. Is there any connection between the two?

A: I have not heard of it. I can enquire for you.

Q: China’s State Council issued a report on the human rights situation in the US. Can you tell me why the Chinese side release this report or what purpose to achieve? Second question, it is reported by a Hong Kong media that a Chinese delegation was refused by a meeting in New Zealand because the local hotels were reluctantly to let it in for fear of atypical pneumonia and some delegates coming from Guangdong. What is your comment?

A: On your first question, I have stated our position Tuesday on the human rights report released by the US State Department. I heard this morning that the Information Office of the State Council in China also issued a white paper on the US human rights situation. I said last time that we hope the US side can see more its own problems. And the US Human Rights Record issued by the Chinese side can help it to do so if it is reluctant to do so itself. On the human rights issue, the Chinese side stands for dialog to narrow difference on an equal footing instead of imposing sanction or interfere in other’s internal affairs by using human rights.  

On your second question, Minister Zhang Wenkang of Health introduced to the media yesterday information of the atypical pneumonia that occurred in certain regions. His introduction shows that the epidemic has been brought under effective control. We hope that relevant countries and sides can judge the situation correctly instead of being misled by some inaccurate information that interfere the normal personnel exchanges between China and relevant countries.

Q: The US has imposed sanction on a Pakistani company since it transferred missile technology to the DPRK. Do you think the sanction reasonable since South Asia is not as tense as the Korean peninsula?

A: I have also read relevant report but noticed that the Pakistani side has already denied the allegation.

Q: The ROK national security assistant Ra Jong-yil met with Li Zhaoxin. How was the meeting going and what were the main topics?

A: I have introduced Tuesday that he came to China as guest of the ROK embassy in China. He paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Li and the two exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues of common interest. I have nothing else to tell you apart from this.

Q: Does China have any specific plan or make any diplomatic efforts to ease conflict between India and Pakistan?

A: I don’t think you have attended the press conference Tuesday when I introduced the phone conversation between Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxin and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. I’d like to repeat: Foreign Minister Li said that the Chinese side was concerned with and worried about the current stalemate of no-contact and no-dialog and the trend of possible escalation of conflict between India and Pakistan. He said that the India-Pakistan question had a long history and was very complicated. He maintained that peaceful dialog and negotiation was the only way to solve it. China has been making efforts to promote reconciliation and dialog between the two, push the two sides to resume dialog, solve their disputes peacefully and refrain from taking actions that will deteriorate the situation. The Chinese side is willing to make its own efforts for peace and stability in South Asia with the international community.