Q: What will be discussed during Israeli Foreign Minister's visit to China? What impact will it have on the development of bilateral ties? What's the comment of the Chinese Government on Israeli's withdrawl from the occupied territories of Palestine?

A: At the invitation of Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, Vice Premier and Foreign Minister of Israel, Peres will pay a visit to China from March 24 to 26. The two sides will exchange views in an in-depth manner on bilateral ties as well as international and regional issues of common interest. China stands ready to develop friend relations and cooperation on the basis of Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. We believe that the development of normal state-to-state relations serve the interests of the two peoples and is conducive to regional peace and stability.

The Chinese Government follows closely the current tensions and turbulances in the Middle East. China will exchange views with the Israeli side during the visit.

We  welcome Israel's withdrawl from the occupied territories, hoping to see a comprehensive withdrawl in an earlier date so as to create conditions for restart of the peace talks with the Palestinian side.


Q: Will Tang Yaomin's visit to the US cast cloud over Vice President Hu Jingtao's visit to the US? Has the agenda of this visit been set already? Will there be any change?

A: Vice Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing made solemn representations with the US side on Tang's visit to the US couple of days ago, expounding in detail on China's position. China has always held that Taiwan question bares upon China's sovereignty and territorial intergrity, which remains to be the most important and sensitive issue at the heart of China-US relations. We hope that the US side can fulfill its commitment by real deeds by sticking to the three Sino-US Joint Communiques, abiding by the One-China policy and principle and refraining from interfering with China's internal affairs by making use of the Taiwan question.


Q: On yesterday's UN Human Rights Commission Session, German Foreign Minister Fischer criticized China's human rights status, calling for greater autonomy for Tibet and Xinjiang. What's China's reponse to that? The Chinese Police in Northeast of China reportedly caught some Koreans who had crossed the border illegally and sent them back to DPRK, please confirm.

A: Three days ago, UN Human Rights Commission started this session in Geneva. We hope that the yearly human rights session can pursue the principle of equality and mutual respect and have a deep and wide range of exchanges of views on human rights which is a univeral interest. The mechanism should be conducive to enhancing mutual understanding, expanding common consensus and learning from each other so as to promote the healthy development of the international course of human rights.

Talking about China's human rights status, most of the people present here have been living and working in China for years. You are the witnesses to the constant improvement of human rights status in China, which is now in its best ever period in its history since China has adopted reform and opening-up some 20 years ago. The Chinese people including the ethnic groups in Tibet and Xinjiang enjoy comprehensive human rights and fundamental freedom. The unreasonable accusation of China by some countries are totally goundless.

We are opposed to applying pressure on others under the pretext of human rights and to politicizing human rights issues. Countries should enhance mutual understanding and expand common ground through dialogue so as to make common progress.

On your second question, I'd like to reiterate that China has always taken into consideration humanitarian needs in deaing  with those who have crossed the border illegally. They are handled in light of international and relevant Chinese laws. The distorted report by some media worth no comment.


Q: Fang Fuming, the US citizen was sentenced to five years in jail for illegal obtaining state secrects by a Court here in Beijing today. What's China's comment on that? Will he be deported by China?

A: Today Beijing No.1 Intermediate People's Court made public verdict  of the case. Xinhua News Agency has already covered the news. If you still want to get the details of the case, you can refer your questions to relevant departments. I wish to note here that China is a country ruled by law. The case was handled in light of law.


Q: What's China's assessment and expectation of the UN International Conference for Financing Development in Montary Mexico?

A: The Chinese Government attaches great importance  to the said conference. Minister of Finance, Xiang Huaicheng, heading a governmental delegation, is now present at this conference as the representative of President Jiang.

We have always held that capital is the core of development. For a long time, lack of capital and irrational international system of economy and trade has severely underminded economic and social development of the developing countries. The problem has become more prominent when economic globalization deepens.

We hope that the international community should strengthen cooperation in financing development whileas the developed countries should help create favourable external environment for developing countries and help them overcome difficulties and achieve sustaibable development by proceeding from the general perspective of seeking long-term global economic stability and balanced development as well as fulfilling their commitment in the field of financing, debt relieving, trade and development assistance.


Q: Some Western countries have refused to accept the results of Zimbabwe's election and will impose sanctions upon it. What's China's comment on that?

A: We believe that the international community should respect the will and choice of the people in Zimbabwe and play a constructive role in promoting domestic reconciliation, stability and development. Differences can be solved through negotiation and dialogue. Resorting to sanctions arbitarily will not be conducive to solving the problem, nor will it be in the interest of the stability and development of Zimbabwe and the whole of the Southern Africa.


Q: President Jiang had a phone conversation with President Putin yesterday. Did the two leaders disscuss the US  recent move on Taiwan?

A: By President Putin's request, President Jiang had a phone converstation with him. The two exchanged views mainly on the mutually beneficiary cooperation between the two sides, believing that such cooperation is in the interest of the two peoples and two countries.


Q: It is reported that the Assistant Secretary of State of the US said in a testimony before the Congress that China has a plan of waging a sophisticated chemical war, and Iran continues to get from China and Russia materials, technology and equipment for making chemical weapons. What's China's comment?

A: I need to note that China does not possess any chemical weapons. It has always fully and stictly carried out the Covention on Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. To ensure relevant items not to be exported to produce chemical weapons, the Chinese Government has set up a series of laws and regulations and had strict control over the export of relevant chemicals, technologies and equipment.

I also wish to note that there are a large amount of sophisticated chemical weapons possessed by the US yet to be destroyed. The unreasonable accusation and deliberate defamation is out of ulerior motives and irresponsible.


Q: It is reported that President Jiang will visit Iran next month. Please brief us the goal of the visit. Another question is, the former Foreign Minister of Japan, Tanaka, is now in Beijing for a visit. Given that now she is only a member of the Diet, what else can she do? How will China treat her?

A: President Jiang will pay visits to some countries next month. Arrangements are still under disussion with relevant countries right now. I will let you know in due time.

On your second question, at the invitation of the China's Friendship Association, the Japanese Foreign Minister, Tanaka is here for a visit today. Chairman Li Peng will meet with her. She played a constructive role in promoting bilateral ties when she was the Foreign Minister, to which we wish to express our appreciation. China has the tradition of not to forget an old friend. We hope that she will continue to play a role in promoting China-Japanese friendship in this capacity.


Q: Has China cancelled the port calls to the US? Besides, you didn't give me an answer to Vice President Hu Jingtao's visit to the US, can I read that as the visit will be made as scheduled?

A: To my knowledge, Chinese naval fleet will be paying port calls as scheduled, US ports are not included in the plan.

On your second question, agreement was reached between leaders of the two countries during President Bush's working visit to China, which is President Jiang and Vice President Hu will visit the US this year. However, in as short as one month following President Bush's visit, the US side has made a series of erroneous acts, violating the three Sino-US Joint Communiques. We believe that the US should take into serious consideration China's solomn representations and realize the importance of Taiwan question in China-US relations. Any violation of the three Joint Communiques will have tremendously adverse effect on China-US relations. We hope that the US side can strictly abide by the One-China Policy and three Joint Communiques as well as put end to interfering into China's internal affairs by using Taiwan question.