Q: What impact will Vice President Hu’s visit to the US have on China-US relations?

A: On the question of Vice President Hu’s visit to the US, we are making full preparations with the relevant party, I will let you know the details of the schedule in due course.


Q: The US Secretary of State Powell is now mediating in the Middle East whileas the conflicts between the Palestine and Israel drag on. How does China view the current Middle East situation?

A: China expresses deep concern and worries over the current Middle East situation. China firmly condemns Israel’s expansion of military strikes in the Palestinian territories regardless of the relevant resolutions approved by UN Security Council. We call upon the Israeli side for responding to the strong demands of the international community by implementing the relevant resolutions of the Security Council immediately and unconditionally as well as withdrawing from the Palestinian territories. China supports all any mediating effort of the international community in relaxing the current tensions, hoping that Mr. Powell’s Middle East trip can be conducive to Israel’s earlier withdrawal from the Palestinian territories and the resumption of political negotiations with the Palestinian side.


Q: Israel began to withdraw from two cities of the Palestinian territories today. What’s your comment?

A: I’ve already read reports of Israel’s withdraw from the Palestinian territories. We hope that Israel can immediately and unconditionally carry out relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, withdrawing its troops from the whole of the Palestinian territories and lifting the siege of President Arafat in an earlier date.


Q: What’s China’s comment on the current situation on the Korean Peninsula? What kind of role will China play there?

A: The recent trip of the ROK President’s special envoy, Ling Dong Won to the DPRK is a success. The US special envoy will be there shortly. China welcomes the positive signs on the Korean Peninsula in recent days. We hope that ROK and DPRK, the US and DPRK can enhance their mutual trust, strengthen their communications and cooperation and improve their relations through dialogue. China has always committed to peace and stability on the Peninsula, endorsing the improvement of bilateral ties between the South and North so as to secure a final independent and peaceful reunification. We support DPRK in improving its relations with the US, Japan and other countries. China will continue to work with the international community and play a constructive role in relaxing the situation on the Peninsula.


Q: This phase of the international anti-terror campaign is over now but the situations there is still unstable. What’s your comment?

A: As a friendly close neighbour of Afghanistan, China is deeply concerned over the current situation there. We have also taken note that there are some small-scaled conflicts in some areas of Afghanistan. But on the whole, the situation there is moving towards relaxation. We believe that with the support of the people in Afghanistan and the whole of the international community, the interim government is capable of safeguarding the stability and resume the reconstruction there in an earlier date.


Q: The US Deputy Secretary of Defense Wolfowitz claimed that the US would try all out to defend Taiwan, what’s your comment? Besides, what’s your comment on the remarks of Ichiro Ozawa, the Japanese political figure, saying that Japan can produce nuclear weapons overnight?

A: Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affairs baring no foreign interference. The remarks of the senior military official of the US are serious violations of the clear commitment made by the US Government in the three Joint Communiqués hence blatant interference in China’s internal affairs. We believe that these remarks are out of some ulterior motives, to which China is firmly opposed.

I would also like to stress here that both history and reality demonstrate that if the US continues to sell weapons to Taiwan and upgrade its relations with Taiwan it could only fuel the splitting flames of the forces for “independence of Taiwan”, escalate tensions across the Taiwan Straits and undermine the interests of the US itself. Once again we urge the US to strictly abide by its commitments and put an end to the erroneous acts so as not to further undermine the China-US relations.

On your second question, I already stated China’s position when I gave my response yesterday. I would like to reiterate that the remarks of the leader of the Japanese Liberal Party are provocative and a typical reflection of the cold-war mentality. Such irresponsible remarks at the 30th anniversary of the normalization of the diplomatic ties between China and Japan definitely go against the aspirations of the Japanese people for peace and development and the desire of both peoples for being friendly to each other for generations.


Q: What’s your comment on the results of Chairman Li Peng’s visit to Japan?

A: We believe that this visit is crowned with success. During his visit, Chairman Li Peng had wide range of contact with Japanese leaders and political figures of both the ruling party and others. Views have been exchanged frankly and extensively on further promotion of the bilateral ties in the new century and significant consensus was reached. Both sides believe that as close neighbours separated by a narrow strip of water it’s the common aspiration of both peoples to secure the friendship for generations. China-Japanese relations have become even more important in the new century. The two sides should further strengthen and intensify their exchanges and cooperation in all fields so as to bring the bilateral ties up to a new level.


Q: It is reported that the Ministerial Meeting of the ASEM Migratory Management was held in Spain. Can you brief us on the meeting? What consensus has been reached on fighting against illegal migration?

A: The Ministerial Meeting of the ASEM Migratory Management between Asia and Europe was held in Lacerote of Spain from April 4 to 5. The meeting was a joint initiative of leaders of Spain, Germany and China on the third summit meeting of ASEM in Soeul in 2000. Ministers or their representatives in charge of migration or foreign affairs attended the meeting. China’s Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangyan and his delegation also attended the meeting.

Participants mainly discussed the situation of migratory flows between Asia and Europe, cooperation between the two continents in combating illegal migration and promotion of the migratory flows in an orderly fashion. Wide range of common consensus was reached and a declaration was issued. All the participants believe that efforts should be made to strengthen Asian-European cooperation and solve the problems in migratory management. Stressing that poverty-relieving and development is the key to eradicate the phenomena of illegal migration, the participants agreed to establish a liaison mechanism for migratory management between Asia and Europe and conduct further cooperation on information exchange, education and public-awareness strengthening, technological assistance, personnel training as well as counterfeit-proof of certificates.


Q: The US President named Taiwan as the “Republic of Taiwan” couple of days ago, however the US side made clarification to the Chinese side by saying that it’s just a slip of tongue. How did the US side make the clarification? Did it say “apologize”, or “very sorry” or just “a slip of tongue”? Besides, you just mentioned that the remarks of the Deputy Secretary of Defense were out of some ulterior motives, does it mean that he supports the “independence of Taiwan”?

A: With regard to questions relating to President Bush’s speech, I would like to note clearly that the US side, spokespersons of both the Whitehouse and the State Department, has made public clarification on the issue. Besides, on last Friday night when Foreign Minister Tang had phone conversation with Secretary of State Powell, the latter also clearly noted that the US policy on China hasn’t changed. It’s the US policy to stick to the One China policy and the three Joint Communiqués. On this matter, the President of the US didn’t nor will he use such terminology in the future. Therefore the clarification of the US Government is very clear-cut, a very solemn one no matter what words used.

On your second question, I’d like to reiterate our position on the matter. We stress on various occasions that Taiwan question is at the heart of the China-US relations. We believe that any violation of the three Joint Communiqués will bring about very adverse effect upon the bilateral ties. We hope that the US side can match its words with real deeds by strictly abiding by the One China policy and the three Joint Communiqués as well as putting an end to interference in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of Taiwan question.