On 5 June Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhang
Qiyue held a regular press conference.
Zhang
Started by announcing a piece of news.
At the
invitation of Mr. Hor. Namhong, Minister of Foreign Affairs
and International Cooperation of Cambodia, which takes up
the current presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN), Chinas Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing
will attend the Foreign Ministers Meeting of the
ASEAN, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (10+3), the
10th Foreign Ministers Meeting of the ASEAN Regional
Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC),
the ASEAN-China (10+1) Dialogue, and the second informal
meeting of the Foreign Ministers of China, Japan and the
Republic of Korea, which will be held in Phnom Penh of
Cambodia from June 17th to 19th. Minister Li Zhaoxing will
also attend the Asian Cooperation Dialogue to be held in
Chiang Mai, Thailand from June 21st to 22nd.
At the invitations of Foreign Minister Nguyen
Dy Nien of Vietnam, Minister of Foreign Affairs and
International Cooperation Hor Namhong of Cambodia, Foreign
Minister Surakiart of Thailand, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing
will also visit the three countries before and after the
meetings.
Q: What is your comment on
the summit meeting held between the US and Arab countries
and the meeting between US, Israel and
Palestine?
A: The Chinese side
appreciates the positive results of the two summits. We
believe that it is an important step towards peace and
stability in the Middle East. We hope the relevant parties
could continue their efforts for the early realization of
all-round and lasting peace in this region. China is also
willing to make its own efforts towards this goal.
Q: You said just now that the Chinese side
is willing to make its own efforts to peace and stability in
the Middle East. Please specify what kind of efforts will
China make? For example will you participate in the whole
process of the implementation of the Roadmap and
what kind of role will you play?
A:
China has always made its positive efforts to the Middle
East peace process. Not long ago Chinas special envoy
on the Middle East question Ambassador Wang Shijie
has just visited Israel and Palestine and exchanged views
with some other major parties on the Middle East question.
We hope that Israel and Palestine can make concrete measures
in implementing the roadmap so as to actively coordinate the
mediating efforts of the international community and solve
the question at an early date. He has also put forward views
and suggestions on how to solve it. In addition, the Chinese
side has also made some detailed proposals including the
early establishment of a just, authoritative and effective
international supervision mechanism, the early convocation
of an international conference on the Middle East question
participated by the permanent members of the UN Security
Council and the parties concerned. In a word, the Chinese
side adopts a positive attitude and we are willing to keep
close contact with all the parties concerned so as to make
our contribution to the early realization of peace in the
Middle East.
Q: The US has just
appointed a special envoy on the Middle East question. The
Chinese side has suggested the establishment of an
international supervision mechanism on the implementation of
the Roadmap. So will you invite him to this
mechanism?
A: The US side said that
the main task of its special envoy is to push for the
implementation of the Roadmap. Both Palestine
and Israel have formally accepted the Roadmap
and it means that it will soon be implemented. As to how to
implement it and when such a just and authoritative
international supervision mechanism can be established,
parties concerned will further consult it.
Q: How will you evaluate your
relations with the Central Asian countries? Will President
Hu Jintaos successful visit to Kazakhstan facilitate
peace between China and its Central Asian neighbors? Will it
promote the bilateral relations between China and its
Central Asian neighbors, e.g. economic relations and
trade?
A: President Hu has just
concluded his visit to Kazakhstan. This is a very successful
visit and I have introduced it during the press conference
last time. Both sides are satisfied with the smooth
development of the bilateral relations. The bilateral
relations have been further developed with the signing of
the Sino-Kazakh Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly
Cooperation. The two sides signed a number of economic and
technological cooperation agreements during the visit this
time that will further promote the good-neighborly and
friendly relations between China and Kazakhstan.
The relations between China and other Central
Asian countries have been developing smoothly, not only in
the sense of bilateral relations but also through the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization to deepen the cooperation
with these countries. To further strengthen relations and
deepen exchange with Chinas Asian neighbors is of
major significance to peace and stability in the whole
region.
Q: President Bush said at the
US-Israel-Palestine summit that the security of Israel must
be ensured. Do you think that he, in saying this, ignores
the rights of the 5 million Palestinian refugees to return
to their homeland and one million Palestinians living in
Israel?
A: We appreciate the positive
results of the summit and hope that both Palestine and
Israel can seize this opportunity so as to implement the
Roadmap in real earnest. We also hope that the
parties concerned can make positive and constructive efforts
to this end.
Follow-up: What is your
attitude on the question of Palestinian
refugees?
A: As to some specific
questions between Israel and Palestine e.g. the question of
Palestinian refugees, we hope that they can be solved
through talks between the two sides.
Q: Is President Hus visit this
time a success? What are the
achievements?
A: President Hu will
return to Beijing this afternoon. The visit to the four
countries in Europe and Asia this time is his first visit to
foreign countries since he assumed office as president of
China. He also participated in international conferences and
multi-lateral activities during the visit. This visit is a
very successful one and has yielded important results.
According to what I know, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxin will
introduce to the Chinese media the achievements of this
visit and you will be able to read the report very soon.
Q: It is reported that the DPRK has
told the US many times that it has nuclear weapons. The DPRK
having nuclear weapons does not conform to the position of
the Chinese side. If it does have nuclear weapons, what
measures and actions will you
take?
A: I note that you use
if in your question. The Chinese sides
position on the DPRK nuclear question is very clear. We are
opposed to nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula, opposed
to tension in the region and stand for dialog to solve the
current DPRK nuclear question. We think that peaceful
settlement of the current question conforms to interest of
all sides and peace and stability in the whole region.
We hope that all the parties concerned can
exercise restraint and keep calm so as to make positive
efforts to the resumption of dialog.
Q: It is known that 18 Tibetans have
been repatriated from Nepal recently. Please confirm. I
heard that they went to Nepal illegally. How will you deal
with them?
A: I can confirm it. The
Nepalese police seized in Katmandu 21 illegal immigrants
from Tibet. According to the normal practice in the world to
handle illegal immigrants, 18 of them, after being verified
to be Chinese citizens, were repatriated back to China
according to law on 31 May.
On illegal
immigration, Id like to point out here that it has
become an acute problem worldwide. The international
community attaches great importance to it and has conducted
a series international and regional cooperation to fight
against it. China attaches great importance to countering
illegal immigration and has taken an active part in the
international and regional cooperation in the field. We
maintain that the question should not be politicized. It
will not help the settlement of the question. As to how to
deal with these repatriated persons, I think it is
Chinas internal affairs.
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