Q: First, I would like to express my congratulations on your first press conference as the Foreign Ministry spokesman. Please brief us on President Jiang’s attendance in CICA. President Jiang is going to meet President Musharraf. I would like to hear your comments.

A: Yesterday, my colleague Kong Quan released relevant information on President Jiang’s meeting with Pakistani President and Indian Prime Minister during CICA. I would like to brief you on the meeting again. President Jiang Zemin left for Kazakhstan yesterday to attend the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Almaty. According to the schedule we agreed on with Pakistan and India, President Jiang will respectively meet with Pakistani President Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee this evening.

China’s attitude on the relaxation of the current tension between India and Pakistan is clear-cut. We sincerely hope that the two sides could proceed from the maintenance of peace and stability in South Asia, show restraint, and peacefully resolve their disputes through negotiations and dialogues. The relaxation of the India-Pakistan relations first and foremost serves the interests of India and Pakistan, and is the common aspiration of the international community, including China.


Q: President Jiang is also going to meet with Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee during CICA. What’s your comment? Does the Chinese side intend to mediate the tension in South Asia? In addition, many foreign agencies in India and Pakistan, including the United Nations, intend to withdraw their diplomats. Does the Chinese side have the similar plan?

A: President Jiang will meet with Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee this evening. Since the meeting is yet to be held, spokesman of the Chinese delegation will release relevant information to the press after the meeting. As for whether the Chinese side is going to withdraw its personnel from India and Pakistan, as far as I know, we have no such consideration now.


Q: It has been reported that Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda claimed Japan should revise its “three non-nuclear principles”. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi also said that Fukuda was not wrong to say, “Japan should develop nuclear weapons for military activity restricted to self-defense”. What’s the comment of the Chinese side?

A: Peace and development have become the main themes of the times. International nuclear disarmament has scored continuous achievements. The remarks by senior Japanese Government officials against such a backdrop are really shocking. Japan has adhered to “three non-nuclear principles” up to now, and has made solemn commitments on the nuclear issue to the international community. The above remarks, that obviously run counter to these promises and principles, have met with extensive resistance within Japan, and will inevitably bring about serious concern from its close neighbors in Asia and all the peace loving peoples in the world. We believe that the Japanese people will proceed from the fundamental interests of their own country, and make a right judgement and choice.

As I have learnt, today, the Japanese Government has made clear Japan’s official position on the issue of nuclear weapons to China and other countries concerned through diplomatic channels, stressing that Japan will adhere to the “three non-nuclear principles” of “not producing, not possessing, and not allowing nuclear weapons into the country”. The Chinese side hopes that Japan will seriously and earnestly honor this solemn commitment.


Q: Will China and Russia table a draft bill “not to deploy nuclear weapons in outer space” at the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva? Why does China oppose the deployment of nuclear weapons in outer space?

A: China has always maintained that outer space should be developed and utilized entirely for peaceful purpose. In recent years, the UN General Assembly has adopted resolutions on several occasions, requiring the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva to play a leading role in the negotiation to conclude one or several multi-lateral agreements that prevent arms race in outer space. It also calls on all the countries to make positive contribution in this regard.

Not long ago, delegations of China and Russia briefed the members of the Conference on Disarmament the jointly formulated work document named “Possible Elements for a Future International Legal Agreement on the Prevention of the Deployment of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects”. At present, we are extensively soliciting opinions from all countries, and hope that the Conference will soon start substantive negotiations, in order to conclude an international legal document at an early date. China stands ready to work together with all the peace loving countries in the world, through constructive cooperation in multi-lateral field, to maintain peace and tranquility in outer space.


Q: The Chinese people have been closely followed the soccer game between China and Costa Rica. I would like to hear your comments on the game between China and a country, which has not established diplomatic relations with China?

A: I believe we should separate politics and sports. I know that Chinese people care about more than our own games. Three East Asian teams will appear in the World Cup games today. Let us wish all of them good luck.


Q: When Chinese soccer team lost games to foreign teams, Chinese soccer fans often acted rashly and stirred up trouble. Will the Chinese side worry about such cases if the Chinese team loses too much today? In addition, are you a soccer fan yourself? Do you regret not being able to watch the game?

A: I would like to take your second question first. I am personally very interested in soccer, and I feel that it is a pity that I have to work at this time. I believe what the Chinese fans care about is that our team can perform well in its debut in the World Cup. Of course I also hope and believe that the Chinese soccer fans will keep their senses at any result. I would like to wish them good luck here.


Q: Does the Chinese side have any plan in the reconstruction of Afghanistan?  

A: During Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan’s visit to Afghanistan in May, the two sides signed an agreement on economic and technological cooperation, which included a $ 30 million worth of assistance gratis to Afghanistan. The two sides are currently having discussions on finalizing the concrete items of the assistance. China has always been active in the reconstruction work of Afghanistan, and will continue to provide aid within our own capacity.