Q: First of all, please allow me to offer my condolences to the death of Chinese civilians in the bombing last Friday. Could you please explain to me how come the Chinese Government’s reaction is so mild? China’s reaction to the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia is completely different. Are you planning to ask for compensation from the Palestinian Authority?

A: First of all, I wish to express my thanks for your condolences to the Chinese victims in the bomb attack. After the incident, the Chinese Government quickly made clear its position. We regret over the bombing attack in Jerusalem. We have expressed our sympathy to the Chinese and Israeli civilians that were victimized during the incident. The Chinese Government has always opposed to any form of violence. We strongly call upon both Palestine and Israel to immediately put an end to the current vicious circle of trading violence with violence, so as to avoid harming more innocent civilians.

On the reaction of the Chinese Government, in my view, things differ from each other. Our position towards this suicide bombing is clear. We are in contact with the relevant parties to make the necessary arrangement for the dead and injured Chinese.


Q: What is your comment on the current situation in Venezuela?

A: We are happy to see that the situation in Venezuela is moving towards stability.

We believe that, under the leadership of President Chavez, the Venezuelan people will devote themselves to political stability and economic development and make more progress in the way ahead.

China and Venezuela are friendly countries. We will continue to develop and step up our friendly relations and cooperation with Venezuela.


Q: Recently, nine Chinese sailors disappeared in Hawaii after being rescued. Could you please make a clarification? What has been achieved in the consultations between China and Japan on the salvaging of the sunken boat in the East China Sea? It is reported that U.S. naval ships will visit Hong Kong. Could you please give us some details?

A: On the first question, we have also read the relevant reports. We are trying to collect more information.

On the second question, China and Japan have been contacting and exchanging views with each other on the investigation of the sunken ship in the East China Sea. We hold that, when handling this issue, the Japanese side must fully recognize and respect China’s rights and interests. The Chinese Government will, in accordance with the international laws and relevant domestic laws and regulations, safeguard its relevant sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its exclusive economic zone.

On the third question, I have no idea which ship you are talking about. In principle, we examine case by case the applications by foreign military aircrafts or naval ships to visit Hong Kong in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law and considering all the relevant factors.


Q: It is reported by the Xinhua News Agency that the Chinese Government will provide material assistance to the DPRK. Could you please brief me on the amount and details of the assistance?

A: The Xinhua News Agency has already carried a report on the issue. I have nothing new to add. China and the DPRK are friendly neighbours with close bilateral ties. In order to push ahead our friendly relations and express the Chinese people’s sentiment to the people of the DPRK on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, China has granted a load of free material assistance to the DPRK.


Q: Could you please brief us on the agenda and other details of the forthcoming Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization? In addition, it is reported that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will hold a meeting in June for discussions on its Charter. Please confirm.

A: Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan will attend the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to be held in Moscow on 26 April. The meeting will be held in preparation for the SCO’s Summit Meeting in June. The foreign ministers will have an in-depth exchange of views on the ongoing international and regional situation, the development of the SCO and other major issues.

As the second meeting of its kind since the establishment of the SCO, the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will be of great significance to the success of the SCO Summit Meeting in June and enhanced cooperation in the development of the SCO.

According to the agreement of the SCO leaders, the Charter for the organization will be drafted. The Charter will be an important legal document, with provisions on SCO’s objective, direction for cooperation, mechanism, operation methods and other major issues. At the moment, the member states are stepping up their consultations on the details of the Charter.


Q: The Indian Prime Minister recently made some remarks against Muslims, claiming that the Muslims do not want to stay peacefully. What is your comment? Besides, Israel is bent on having its way in disregard of the repeated calls of the international community for an end of Israeli killings for the Palestinian people and an immediate and thorough withdrawal. What is your comment?

A: On the first question, I myself have not read the relevant speech. However, it is our hope that India could maintain social stability, as well as unity and harmony among its ethnic groups.

On the second question, China has closely followed the situation in the Middle East. We have noted that lately, U.S. Secretary of State Powell had separate talks with leaders of Israel and Palestine. However, the tension in the region persists. It is our hope that the relevant mediation efforts of the international community could yield results, so as to bring an early end to the conflict and an early restoration of peace talks. In our view, the key to a relaxation of the current tension lies in a positive response from Israel to the international peace-making efforts. Israel should immediately and unconditionally implement the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and withdraw from all its occupied Palestinian territories. Only by doing so, can one avoid the further deterioration of the situation.


Q: What is your comment on the return of Afghanistan’s Former King Zahir Shah back home?  Besides, What is China’s position on the Loya Jirga?

A: We have taken note of the relevant reports. Afghanistan’s Former King Zahir Shah will soon return to Afghanistan. Thanks to the joint efforts of the various parties in Afghanistan and the international community, Afghanistan is finally on its road to national reconciliation and reconstruction. Peace in Afghanistan today has not come easily. It is our sincere hope that the parties in Afghanistan, proceeding from the general interest of the country and the people, support the work of the Interim Government and devote themselves to national reconstruction, so that the Afghan people could lead a peaceful and tranquil life as soon as possible.

According to the Bonn Accord, the emergency Loya Jirga  of Afghanistan will be held soon. We sincerely hope that the Loya Jirga could be held smoothly. After full consultations, a broadly based transitional government will be elected to represent the interest of various ethnic groups of Afghanistan. This not only serves the fundamental interest of all the people in Afghanistan, but also contributes to the long-term tranquility of Afghanistan, as well as peace and stability of the region.


Q: I have learnt that China and the United States will hold some bilateral meetings on economics and trade in April, as well as science and technology. Please give us some details.  

A: The 10th Meeting of Sino-US Joint Commission on Scientific and Technological Cooperation will be held in Beijing from 25 to 26 April. The meeting is a follow-up to the agreement by the two leaders in February to hold meetings of the joint commissions on science and technology, economics and trade within the year. The Joint Commission will be headed from the Chinese side by Minister of Science and Technology Xu Guanhua and joined by delegates from a dozen departments, including the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The U.S. side will be headed by the President’s assistant on science, who is also the head of the science and technology policy office of the White House.

The Meeting will mainly discuss mechanisms and methods for future Sino-U.S. cooperation in science and technology and ways to push forward cooperation in such areas as energy and material science, ecological system and environmental science, life and health science, agricultural and food science, science education and publicity.

The 14th Sino-U.S. Joint Commission on Trade and Commerce will also be held in late April. Moftec Minister Shi Guangsheng and U.S. Commerce Secretary will head their delegations to the meeting. The two sides will exchange views with each other on Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations and other questions of common concern.


Q: What is the objective and significance of Vice President Hu’s visit to Malaysia, Singapore and the United States? What is its impact on Sino-U.S. relations?

A: At the invitations of the Malaysian Government and Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong of Singapore, Vice President Hu Jintao will pay an official visit to Malaysia and Singapore from 23 to 27 April. It is the first visit by Vice President Hu to Malaysia and Singapore.

During the visit, Vice President Hu will have talks with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi and Singapore’s Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. He will meet with Malaysia’s Supreme Head of State Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir, Singapore’s President S. R. Nathan, Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew and Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for exchanges of views on bilateral relations, as well as international and regional issues of common concern. We believe that the visit by Vice President Hu will deepen China’s friendly cooperation with Malaysia and Singapore and further consolidate China’s good-neighbourly relations and mutual trust with these two surrounding countries.

After his visit to Malaysia and Singapore, Vice President Hu Jintao will pay an official visit to the United States from 27 April to 3 May at the invitation of Vice President Cheney. We believe that the high-level dialogue and exchanges between China and the United States will increase our mutual understanding and push ahead our cooperation. With our joint efforts, Vice President Hu’s visit to the United States will play a positive role in push forward Sino-U.S. relations.


Q: After the September 11 incident, the United States has been leading the international war against terrorism. Some people claim that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has not played its due role. It exists only in name. What is China’s comment? Will the SCO’s Charter still target terrorism, splitism and extremism? Will there be anything new?

A: An important task of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is to step up their cooperation in the fight against the “three forces”, including the fight against terrorism. I wish to remind you of an important fact. The SCO was actually established prior to the September 11 incident. In other words, the SCO members had long realized the urgency of the fight against terrorism and the importance of international and regional cooperation in this field. After the September 11 incident, the SCO has not existed only in name. On the contrary, the SCO has grown in importance and necessity. The SCO members have agreed to enhance their cooperation in the fight against the “three forces” through this mechanism.

At the moment, the SCO members are busy holding consultations on its Charter, which contains important provisions on its purposes, direction of cooperation, mechanism and operational method. It will be a very important legal document. The foreign ministers will have an exchange of views on the Charter at the forthcoming Foreign Ministers’ Meeting towards the end of the month.


Q: What is your comment on the significance of the AAPP meeting being held today?

A: The Third General Assembly of the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace (AAPP) is being held in Beijing today. The theme of the meeting is “peace and development”. Delegates will hold discussions on such topics as world pluralisation and world peace, economic globalization and developing countries and international cooperation for the establishment of a new international political and economic order. In the spirit of seeking common ground while putting aside differences, the delegates will hold friendly consultations, collect all sorts of opinions and try to have more common understanding. The Chongqing Declaration of the AAPP will be approved at the meeting. The leaders of the National People’s Congress of China will also use the opportunity to get in touch with its colleagues from the region.


Q: Recently, an international conference has been proposed on the question of the Middle East. If Israel opposes Arafat’s participation in the conference, what will be China’s response?

A: We have noted the relevant proposals and are trying to gather more information on the proposal, as well as the response from the relevant countries, especially the Arab countries.  

In our view, if a meaningful international conference on the Middle East question is to be held, without any doubt President Arafat should have a seat at the conference. We have always held that President Arafat is the leader of the Palestinian people with high prestige. He is indispensable in the Middle East peace process. As a forefather of the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, he has made important contributions to the peace process in the Middle East. In light of this, any international conference on the Middle East should have the presence of President Arafat.


Q: Could you please tell us something more about the Air China plane crash in South Korea? How does China prepare to deal with the accident?

A: There are already quite a few press coverage of this most unfortunate plane accident. As far as I know, there are 39 survivors.

The Chinese Government attaches great importance to the accident. After learning of the crash, President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji, who are on overseas visits, immediately instructed the relevant departments to do their best in the rescue and other follow-up activities. They have expressed their deep condolences to all the victims. They also sent telegrams to President Kim Dae Jung to express their condolences and sympathy to the South Koreans who died during the crash.

The Chinese Government, Foreign Ministry, CAAC and Air China have paid great attention to the accident. They are now in close coordination with the Korean side, going all out for the rescue of the injured. China has sent an investigation team to South Korea for joint investigation into the accident. China will do its best to properly deal with the aftermath of the accident.