On April 17, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu
Jianchao held a regular press conference.
Liu
Jianchao: Good afternoon, everyone. Now the floor is
open.
Q: What is China’s comment
on the prospect of dialogue on the nuclear question of the
Korean Peninsula?
A: The nuclear
issue of the Korean Peninsula must be resolved peacefully
through dialogue. Following this principle, the Chinese side
has been making active and constructive efforts to this end.
Political will and sincerity of the relevant parties
concerned are called for in order to initiate dialogue.
Encouragement and support of the international community are
also called for.
Q: U.S. President
Bush yesterday indicated that the United States would push
the UN Security Council to lift its economic sanctions
against Iraq. What is your
comment?
A: For the long-term
interest of all countries and people in the Gulf and
security and peace of the world, China stands for the
post-war reconstruction of Iraq within the UN framework.
China is ready to actively participate in the endeavor. The
United Nations has played an important role on the Iraqi
issue over the years. The relevant resolutions of the UN
Security Council are the important basis for the settlement
of the Iraqi issue. It is our hope that the relevant
questions, including the one you mentioned, could be solved
within the UN framework.
Q: What kind
of measures will China adopt to enable the United Nations to
play an important role in the post-war reconstruction of
Iraq?
A: I have already elaborated
upon the position of the Chinese Government on the post-war
reconstruction of Iraq. The Chinese side holds that the
post-war arrangement of Iraq should be dealt with in the UN
framework. China has stressed that Iraq’s sovereignty
and territorial integrity should be respected. The will and
choice of the Iraqi people should be respected. The
legitimate concern of all the neighbours of Iraq should be
respected. The lawful interests of other countries in Iraq
should be respected. As for the concrete plans, the Chinese
side adopts an open attitude, so long as the plans serve the
interest of the Iraqi people and contribute to the
restoration of peace and stability of Iraq. China is ready
to step up its contacts and coordination with the parties
concerned. China will also come up with its own propositions
in due course.
Q: Yesterday, Kan
Naoto, leader of the non-governing Party of Democracy of
Japan, came to China for meetings with the Chinese leaders.
What is your comment on the results of the
talks?
A: At the invitation of the
Communist Party of China (CPC), Kan Naoto, leader of the
Party of Democracy of Japan, led an 8-member delegation on a
goodwill visit to China from 15 to 17 April. During the
visit, the delegation was met by Hu Jintao, General
Secretary of CPC and China’s President. The delegation
had talks with Mr. He Guoqiang, member of the Political
Bureau of the CPC, Secretary of the Secretariat and Head of
the Organizational Department of the CPC. The delegation
also met with officials from the International Liaison
Department of the CPC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. During his
visit, Mr. Kan Naoto had an exchange of views with the
Chinese side on the development and deepening of the ties
between the two parties and the two nations, as well as on
the international and regional situation. The question of
high-level visits between the two countries was also touched
upon.
Q: Back to the Iraq question.
Does China have any specific proposals on the role of the
United Nations in the post-war reconstruction of
Iraq?
A: As I just said, the Chinese
side will come up with its own propositions at an
appropriate time. I will let you know in due course.
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