On 13 May Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhang Qiyue held a regular press conference. Zhang expressed her hope that correspondents would lose no time in raising questions since it was no good for people to gather together for a long time in SARS period.

Q: Japan's Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Chikara Sakaguchi recently claimed that the WHO should let Taiwan join the organization as an observer. What is your comment on this?

A: The WHO is an international organization and only sovereign states are entitled to join it. Taiwan, as a province of China, is not qualified to participate in the WHO in any capacity. No country or individual has the right to invite Taiwan to participate in the WHO as an observer.

China has made presentations for several times to Japan through diplomatic channels. Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who has just returned from a trip to Japan, has stated the solemn position of the Chinese Government to the Japanese Foreign Minister. He called on Japan to adhere to the one-China policy and preserve the political basis for Sino-Japanese relations.

Q: What is your reaction to the bombing in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia?

A: We are shocked at the serious bombing incident in Saudi Arabia, which has already resulted in heavy casualties, and express sympathy and condolences to families of the victims and those injured. At present, relevant sides are investigating cause of the incident and the Chinese side will follow it closely.

Q: It is said that Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxin and Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi have expressed their hope to solve the DPRK nuclear question through multilateral talks and that the talks to be held as early as possible in Beijing. What is the prospect of the multilateral talks to be held once again in Beijing? Will Japan and the ROK participate in the next round of multilateral talks? What kind of specific efforts have you made for the next round of talks?

A: Indeed there has been frequent and active diplomatic maneuvering on the DPRK nuclear question. Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxin had a phone conversation with the US Secretary of States Powell several days ago and the two sides exchanged views on the DPRK nuclear question. The US side appreciated the great efforts that China had made for the Beijing talks and thanked the Chinese side for it. Foreign Minister Li said that the Chinese side had always stood for dialog to solve the question peacefully. The Beijing talks have a good beginning and should continue.

Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi went to the ROK and Japan for consultation recently where he met with leading officials of the foreign ministries and governments of the two countries and exchanged views with them on bilateral relations and issues of common concern including the DPRK nuclear question. Vice Minister Wang stressed that the question should be solved peacefully through dialog and that the Beijing talks should continue. The ROK and Japanese sides agreed.

In a word, the Beijing talks represent a good beginning and should continue. All sides agree that it is a useful meeting and a constant process. As to the role of the ROK and Japan, these countries have always stood for dialog to solve the DPRK nuclear question to which we give positive comment. We also welcome them to play their constructive role. The position of the Chinese side on the DPRK nuclear question is very clear and we will continue to make efforts to facilitate the early settlement of the question.

Q: The Roadmap for Middle-East peace has been proposed while the Israeli side has not responded to it so far. Has the Chinese side consulted it with relevant countries? The US has formally urged the UN Security Council to lift sanction against Iraq. What is your comment?

A: The Roadmap for Middle-East question has been formally made public by relevant sides. We maintain that both the Israeli and Palestinian sides should seize the current valuable and favorable opportunity, adopt effective measures and actively coordinate the efforts of relevant sides to promote peace so as to enable the plan to be implemented as early as possible, solve the Palestinian question at an early date and achieve peace and stability of the whole Middle-East region. The Chinese side is willing to make its positive efforts to this end. China's special envoy Wang Shijie for the Middle-East question will visit Israel and Palestine from 18 May and exchange views with the two sides on the Roadmap, which represents a concrete and positive effort of the Chinese side.

On the Iraqi question, we have seen the new draft resolution proposed by the US, the UK and Spain to the UN Security Council. The Chinese side is now studying carefully the main content of the draft resolution. We think that post-war reconstruction in Iraq bears on the long-term interest of the people in Iraq and directly affects peace and stability in the Middle East and Gulf region. We have always stood for the halt of sanction against Iraq and only in this way can we relieve the severe humanitarian situation of the people in Iraq. The Security Council will, in the future days, discuss the specific content of the draft resolution. The Chinese side is conducting consultation with other members of the Security Council in a constructive manner.

Q: What is your comment on the SARS aid from some countries to China?

A: I have introduced what I know about foreign aid and assistance to China to fight SARS during the press conference last time. In recent days some other countries have also given us a helping hand. Leaders and leading officials of many countries and international organizations have expressed their sympathy and support to China in its fight against SARS through letter or telephone. We are grateful to the international community for the support and help they rendered us. SARS is a common problem faced by the entire mankind and only through international cooperation can we combat SARS thoroughly. The Chinese side attaches great importance to and is willing to conduct effective cooperation with other countries.

Q: Some countries have adopted restrictive measures on Chinese citizens going to their countries. Does China understand it or think it unnecessary and undue?

A: SARS is a sudden disaster and understanding of the epidemic is a gradual process. It is also a gradual process as to how to prevent and treat it. Countries adopt some measures to prevent it from further spreading including checks and temporary quarantine measures upon entry of personnel from SARS region. The Chinese side understands it but thinks that the normal activities of the Chinese citizens should be treated fairly. We are making all efforts to bring SARS under control as soon as possible so that the personnel exchange between China and other countries will not be hindered too much.

Q: Please introduce the phone conversation between Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxin and Indian Foreign Minister Sinha yesterday evening. Did they talk about the visit to China by Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee?

A: Yesterday evening Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxin had a phone conversation with his Indian counterpart and the two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and situation in South Asia. The Indian Foreign Minister informed the new developments in the region. Foreign Minister Li stressed that China was happy to see the efforts by both India and Pakistan to easing tension in South Asia. China, as close neighbor of the two countries, sincerely hopes they can solve their disputes and problems through dialog. Minister Li stressed in particular in the conversation that China will continue to adhere to the foreign policy of good-neighborliness and friendship featuring "living with neighbors in harmony and treating neighbors as partners". China hopes to see peace and stability maintained in South Asia.

As to bilateral visit, the two sides are satisfied with the development of bilateral relations at the moment and hope that the momentum of high-level exchange of visits can continue. The Indian Defense Minister had a very good visit to China not long ago. According to the arrangement of both sides, the Chinese side has made active preparation for the visit to China by Prime Minister Vajpayee. The specific arrangement of the visit is yet to be finalized.

Q: What is your comment on the truck bombing of the government compound in the Russian Republic of Chechnya?

A: China severely condemns the terrorist attack in the Russian Republic of Chechnya and expresses deep sympathy and condolences to the victims and their families. China is resolutely opposed to terrorism in all forms and will continue, as always, to support the Russian government in fighting terrorist and separatist forces and maintaining national unity and territorial integrity.