Q: China and India are going to inaugurate the first direct flight today and Indian Foreign Minister Singh will pay a visit to China, what's your comment?

A: Today China East Airline opened its first direct flight between China and India, which marks a big event in the histories of the bilateral ties. Direct flight between the two countries will not only facilitate personnel exchanges but also greatly promote exchanges and understanding between the two countries and two peoples. We hope that the airway can serve as the bond of friendship connecting the two peoples.

At the invitation of Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, Indian Foreign Minister will pay a visit to China tomorrow. China and India are close neighbours and both are developing countries. The Chinese Government has always attached importance to the development of long-term stable good-neighbourly relations and friendly cooperation. In recent years, sound momentum of development  of bilateral ties has been seized. Last January, Premier Zhu paid a successful official visit to India and reached many important consensus with Indian leaders on future development of the bilateral ties. Indian Foreign Minister's visit this time is of great importance to maintaining the momentum of exchanges of high-level visits and promoting friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation. We believe that this visit will achieve positive results through joint efforts of both sides and further promote friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries.


Q: Will tensions between India and Pakistan be discussed during Indian Foreign Minister's visit to China? Will China call upon India and Pakistan to solve their disputes including the question of Kashmir through dialogue?

A: Foreign Ministers of the two countries will exchange views on issues of common interest. With regard to the details of their talk, I will brief you next time. Vice Premier Qian Qichen will meet with him during the visit. Besides Beijing, the Foreign Minister will also visit Shanghai and Shanxi.


Q: On March 27 a suicide bombing in Natanya claimed 15 lives and injured over 100 people. What's your comment?

A: China condemns the bombing against the civilians. We hold that it goes against the peace promotion endeavor of the international community and the aspiration for peace of the peoples in Palestine and Israel. We strongly call relevant parties for an immediate end to the conflicts and resumption of peace talks so as to prevent more innocent people being hurt.


Q: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and ROK. It will also be an exchange year for the two peoples. How the two sides commemorate this event?

A: I'd like to brief you on the background. During his visit to ROK in October 2000, Premier Zhu Rongji reached an agreement with President Kim Dae Jun on jointly hosting an exchange year for the two peoples during the 10th anniversary of the diplomatic ties. On March 27, the Korean side held its opening ceremony in Beijing, to which Premier Zhu sent a congratulating telegram. On March 29, Minister of Culture of China will go to Soeul to hold China's opening ceremony there. On August 24 which marks the date of the 10th anniversary, leaders of the two countries will exchange congratulating telegrams. The two sides will exchange visits of various delegations and hold a series of colorful commemorating activities such as performances, economic and trade exchanges as well as sight-seeing. Through these activities, we hope to strengthen understanding and friendship between the two peoples and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields.


Q: China has always stated that it devotes itself to promoting peace talks between North and South  of the Korean Peninsula. What measures will China take to promote the reconciliation between the two sides?

A: We have always supported any measures that are in the interest of peace and stability of the Peninsula. We definitely welcome the resumption of dialogue between the two sides, hoping that positive results can be obtained out of the visit of the special envoy of ROK. China has always held that the two sides of North and South are the major players in resolving the question of the Peninsula whose settlement will ultimately depend on the two sides themselves. China will continue to support the dialogue and cooperation between the two sides, hoping to see a peaceful and stable Korean Peninsula.


Q: Have the Uygurs fighting in Afghanistan beem repatriated to China?

A: China holds that if some Chinese people are among the terrorists captured in Afghanistan, they should be repatriated to China. Various evidences demonstrate that East Turkistan terrorist forces are closely connected with international terrorist groups and have directly engaged in international terrorist acts. Those you mentioned are East Turkistan terrorists.


Q: Do you mean that there still are some forces inside China connected with bin Laden's al Quaeda and other international terrorist groups or only those Uygurs fighting in Afghanistan?

A: Facts have shown that some East Turkistan terrorist forces are directly connected with international terrorist groups. They were trained by al Quaeda, fought with Taliban and directly engaged in international terrorist acts. I'd like to stress here that fighting against them constitutes part of the international anti-terror campaign.


Q: It is reported by Hongkong press that the US is now applying for a port call by Ketty Hawk in Hongkong. Has China recieved the US application? Will China agree to let the aircraft carrier stop over Hongkong?

A: I am not aware of the specific ship you're talking about. We will approve foreign applications for port calls in Hongkong in accordance with the Basic Law and on the case-by-case basis and taking into consideration of various factors.


Q: Please brief us on preparation of Vice President Hu Jingtao's visit to the US. Any updates to share with us?

A: The two sides of China and the US are making preparations for the visit. I'll let you know the details in due course.