Q: Iraqi Foreign Minister will hold dialogue with UN Secretary General on 7 March, what's your comment?

A: China has taken note that Iraqi Foreign Minister will hold talks with UN Secretary General. It's a positive sign, to which China extends its welcome and support.

China has always maintained that political and diplomatic efforts should be made to find a proper solution to Iraqi question on the basis of relevant resolutions of UN Security Council. We hope that the dialogue this time can be fruitful so as to create favorable conditions for a proper and all round solution to the question.

Q: What's your comment on the recent U.S. military strikes against Taliban and the latest developments in Afghanistan?

A: China strongly supports combat on terrorism and international cooperation in fighting against terrorism.

With respect to the situation in Afghanistan, as a neighbour of Afghanistan, China sincerely hopes that peace and stability can be restored in an earlier date so as to facilitate the reconstruction work there.

Q: U.S. State Department has just issued its annual Human Rights Report 2001, accusing China of depriving its people of the freedom of religon and using counter-terrorism as an excuse to suppress lawful and non-violent views of its Muslisms in Xinjiang. What's your comment?

A: The annual Human Rights Report 2001 issued by U.S. State Department made groundless charges upon China's jurisdiction system, ethnic policy and human rights status by making up stories and confounding right and wrong. We believe that it is just another U.S. attempt to interfere with China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights issues. The Chinese government and its people express their strong dissatisfaction and resolute objection to that.

The Chinese government is devoted to promoting human rights and fundamental freedom. Human rights status in China is now in its best period of constant improvement. It's a fact that no one will fail to see.

One cannot fail to think twice of numerous cases of human rights violation in the U.S. Its government, however, turned a blind eye and sealed its lips to that while out of some ulterior motives, going all out to unscrupulously distort other countries' human rights status and point an accusing finger at the internal affairs of others. The U.S. has played with double standards on human rights, ethnic affairs and other issues, which will undoubtedly be despised and opposed by people upholding justice around the world.

We demand the U.S. to honor fundamental rules governing international relations, correct its erroneous practices and cease interfering with China's internal affairs.

You mentioned that the report has also involved anti-terrorism campaign. On various occasions, China has voiced its support for international cooperation on fighting against terrorism. But at the same time, one can not have double standards here. It is known to all that East Turkistan terrorist forces are responsible for many violent incidents in China and are trained by al Qaeda. Therefore, East Turkistan terrorist forces are one link of international terrorist network and combat against them constitutes a part of international anti-terror campaign.

Q: Vice Foreign Ministers of China and Russia held consultation in Beijing last week. What's your comment?

A: As you mentioned, officials in charge from the Ministry exchanged views in an in-depth manner with the visiting Vice Foreign Minister Losyukov on international situation and other international and regional issues of common interest. Frequent exchanges of views between the two sides on major international issues are conducive both to enhancing mutual understanding and to strengthening their coordination and cooperation in international affairs. Vice Foreign Minster Wang Guangyan will host regular consultations with his counterpart, Mr. Mamedov, on strategic stability. The two will exchange their views extensively on issues such as arms control, disarmament and other important issues of security.

Q: It's reported that the two Vice Foreign Ministers decided during their consultations that both countries should use their influence to reduce tensions between India and Pakistan. What's your comment?

A: China has stated its principled position on the situation between India and Pakistan on various occasions. We hope that the two sides can exercise restraint and seek a peaceful solution to their disputes through friendly consultations.

Regional situation is one of the topics of discussion between China and Russia. Both countries have the identical position on the matter and we will work with Russia to ease tensions in the Sub-Continent.