Q: Foreign Minister of the interim government of Afghanistan indicated that China would increase its assistance to reconstruction of Afghanistan. Is it true?

A: China has already offered 30 million RMB yuan emergency material and 1 million dollars in cash in assistance to Afghanistan. One million dollars cash was handed over to Afghanistan yesterday. After years of war and chaos, Afghanistan needs pressingly reconstruction. As a friendly neighbour of Afghanistan, China will continue to offer assistance within its capacity. China plans to offer further assistance. President Jiang will meet with visiting Chairman Karzai. Their discussion will involve the issue of further assistance.


Q: What kind of role China hopes Afghanistan to play in restoring peace and stability in the region? How does China consider Afghanistan’s relations with its neighbour Pakistan? In your view, how should it develop?

A: As a neighbour of Afghanistan, China has always very concerned over the developments of Afghanistan. After years of war and chaos, people there are longing for peace. Peace is the prerequisite for reconstruction. China has offered assistance to Afghanistan, at the same time, we appeal to the international community and the Afghan people for more efforts in restoring peace and dissolving disputes between different parties. With respect to the relations with its neighbours, we hope that the interim government and the future administration can maintain friendly relations with all of its neighbours including Pakistan, making it a widely respected member of the international community.


Q: Last week, China announced that terrorist activities in Xinjiang are connected with Bin Ladin’s organization. Does China hope to get any reaction from the West, the U.S. in particular? Has China asked for support from the U.S. on this matter?

A: Terrorism is the common enemy of all the human beings. East Turkistan terrorist forces have been getting training and financial support and assistance from Bin Ladin and his Al Qaeda. They have conducted various terrorist activities, harming innocent civilians in Xinjiang of China and other countries. We have adequate evidence for that. The Information Office of the State Council issued an article the other day on the question of East Turkistan, listing proof of the crimes committed by East Turkistan terrorists. Evidence has also show that members of East Turkistan have participated in Taliban’s war and been captured. All these have fully demonstrated that East Turkistan is part of the international terrorist forces and resolute crackdown of it is an important component of the international anti-terrorism campaign. The Chinese Government has the resolute and determination to firmly fight against terrorism, hoping and believing that the rest of the world including the U.S. will render China support and cooperation.


Q: It was reported that President Arafat wrote a letter to President Jiang, appealing that China should play a role in reducing tensions between Israel and Palestine. What kind of role will China play? How does the Chinese Government respond to the letter?

A: On January 22 President Arafat wrote a letter to President Jiang, briefing him on the present situation in Palestine. He expressed that Palestine would continue to live up to its commitment to cease-fire so as to promote the interests of the Palestinian people and maintain security and stability of the Middle East. In his letter, President Arafat thought highly of China’s contribution to the Middle East peace cause. He also appealed that China should make use of its international standing and join the international community in making continuous efforts to prevent Middle East situation from constantly deteriorating and salvage peace process.

During Foreign Minister Tang’s visit to the Middle East at the end of last year, he elaborated in detail China’s principled position on the question, which can be characterized as the following: first of all, put an end to Israeli occupation of Arabian territory on the basis of relevant resolutions of the U.N..  Lawful national rights of Palestinian people should be restored, at the same time the safety of Israel should be guaranteed. Secondly, the principle of “land for peace” and peace talks results should be respected. Relevant parties should resume political talks as soon as possible on the basis of existing agreements and consensus and try to make continuous progress out of it. Thirdly, China is opposed to wishful use of force by Israel against Palestine and any violent activities against innocent civilians. China calls both Palestine and Israel for an immediate end to their conflicts, active coordination with international mediation so as to make it possible for restart of peace talks. Fourthly, the international community should add more attentions and input to Middle East question and U.N. Security Council should play a larger role.


Q: Did Premier Zhu discuss with Chairman Karzai about the repatriation of East Turkistan terrorists inside Afghanistan?

A: In his meeting with Chairman Karzai, Premier Zhu briefed the latter on China’s efforts in combating East Turkistan terrorist forces. He also mentioned that East Turkistan terrorist forces got training and financial support and assistance from Bin Ladin and his Al Qaeda. Chairman Karzai expressed fully understanding of the concerns of the Chinese Government. He also expressed that if any East Turkistan terrorists found by Afghanistan in international anti-terrorism campaign, the interim government will hand them over to China.


Q: Did Chairman Karzai mentioned the fate of Bin Ladin and Omar?

A: The international community has considered Bin Ladin and Omar as masterminds of terrorists. I have taken note that the U.S. has granted high reward for their whereabouts. But it seems that no one really knows where they are. I hope that relevant parties can put them to justice at an early date.


Q: You mentioned just now that Afghanistan will hand over the captured East Turkistan terrorists to China to deal with. What does deal with mean? Are they going to be tried in China? Is it true that China has already found East Turkistan terrorists in Afghanistan? Has China offered a name list to Afghanistan?

A: We believe that East Turkistan terrorists committed crime against people. They made use of terrorist means and broke laws. To deal with means to deal with them in accordance with law.


Q: With respect to the relations of East Turkistan terrorist activities in China with Bin Ladin, can you tell us about the specific evidence and details?

A: I expressed clearly just now that we have got compelling evidence to prove that East Turkistan terrorist forces have been trained, assisted and supported by Bin Ladin and his terrorist organization. East Turkistan terrorists were found participating Afghanistan war and engaging in terrorist activities in places around the world. But I am not in the position to disclose any detailed information here.


Q: Will the question of East Turkistan be discussed when President Jiang meets with Chairman Karzai?

A: We’ll have to see until the talks finish. But I can tell you clearly that Premier Zhu discussed with Chairman Karzai in an in-depth manner about conducting cooperation between the two sides in combating terrorism, including fighting against East Turkistan terrorist forces. I briefed the Press yesterday on related information and made a statement just now. Their meeting has just begun and we have to wait until it finishes.


Q: Afghanistan refugees have become a serious problem for Pakistan and Afghanistan. Did Chairman Karzai discuss it with his Chinese counterpart?

A: In assisting Afghanistan to restore peace and reconstruction, we join the international community in helping the refugees return to their homeland and put an end to their plight. To make it easy for the refugees to return, restoring peace will certainly be a prerequisite. For years, China has been offering assistance within its capacity and a large amount of material assistance to Afghanistan by joining the international community including U.N. HCR. We have been expressing our deep concern over the matter, hoping that the problem can be solved properly at an early date.


Q: It is reported by Japanese media that Japanese officials met with their DPRK counterparts in China to discuss their bilateral relations. Does China know this? Can you share with us some details?

A: First of all, we have always welcome and supported the efforts made by Japan and DPRK in improving their relations. We hope that improvement of their bilateral relations can be conducive to peace, stability and development of cooperation in the region. With respect to when and how they are going to talk, it's a matter between themselves. I have taken note of the related report. Whenever there is a need, China stands ready to offer a helping hand within its capacity.


Q: Last time you said that you had no knowledge of the bugging of President Jiang's plane. Can you brief us today on further information? My second question is, a Canadian Falun Gong member was arrested in Tian'anmen Square yesterday. How is China going to deal with her? Will she be deported? My third question is, it's reported that prisoners in Cuba's Guantanamo were abused, what's your comment?

A: I said last time that if someone wants to bug China, it will be a stupid act by some individuals.

With respect to your second question, my knowledge is that, yesterday afternoon, a Canadian stirred up trouble in Tian'anmen Square. Her activity broke the Law of Gathering, Parade and Protest of the People's Republic of China and relevant laws dealing with evil cult. Public Security organs of Beijing Municipality took her away from the site. Relevant departments gave her a warning for disturbing public order and asked her to leave China within a certain time. We have briefed Canadian Embassy in China through diplomatic channels.

For your third question, I'd like to stress that Geneva Convention in 1949 has a clear stipulation on combatants and POWs, which has been known to every country. Relevant countries should deal with those captured in Afghanistan in accordance with the Geneva Convention.


Q: Does China know whether there are East Turkistan members detained in Guantanamo?

A: It's for sure that East Turkistan members have participated activities and wars in Afghanistan. Some of them were captured, but I am not clear about where they are detained. China is opposed to any sort of terrorism. Chinese Government joins the international community in strongly condenming and resolutely fighting against terrorism wherever it occurs. If the terrorists captured by relevant countries were Chinese citizens, they should be handed over to China to deal with in accordance with law.


Q: It is reported that the bugging of the Presidential plane is purely out of internal reason. What's your comment? How does China differentiate East Turkistan members and Uygurs asking for more rights?

A: For your first question, I don't know about the details. For your second question, China takes strong measures in accordance with law against the terrorists who endanger the safety of lives and property of our people by using terrorist means. We are also resolutely opposed to activities aimed at separating the nation.


Q: Yesterday President Bush declared that U.S. would increase its national defence expenditure to 48 billion U.S. dollars, which represents the largest increase for the past 20 years. Some of the money will be used to anti-terrorism campaign. What's China's comment? It is reported by some Chinese media that there will be a regular meeting on China's Taiwan policy. Some Hongkong media claim that there might be some changes in Central Government's Taiwan policy. What kind of changes? What's the main theme of today's meeting on Taiwan policy?

A: The world today should make an effort to establish mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation. Countries should comply with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, namely, mutual respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference with each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence, and other widely recognized international norms governing state relations, which constitutes the political basis for safeguarding peace. Mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity are economic guarantee for peace. Dialogues, negotiations and consultations based on equality is the right path to resolving disputes and safeguarding peace. Only by establishing a new concept of security and international order which is reasonable and just, can we promote the healthy development of disarmament fundamentally and safeguard world peace and global security.

With respect to Taiwan question, I'd like to stress that China's principled position on Taiwan doesn't have any change. We hold that Taiwan question should be solved by "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems".


Q: With respect to the bugging of President Jiang's plane, you said just now that it is unnecessary and stupid to bug China. Does that mean that you confirm that there is such a case?

A: I heard of related reports. I said that China is a peace-loving country, which constitutes no threat to anybody. It's unnecessary to bug China.