Q: The last summit of Organization of
African Unity was held yesterday, and the OAU is to be
replaced by African Union. What’s your
comment?
A: The 38th OAU Summit, also
the Inaugural Summit of African Union was held on July 8th
to 10th in Durban, South Africa. The African Union will
start to function as a regional organization that offers the
broadest representation on the African Continent. The
inauguration of the African Union is an important move by
the African countries to join hands to cope with challenges
brought by globalization and to realize African Renaissance
through joint self-improvement. It will exert far-reaching
impact on the development of the African
Continent.
The Chinese Government attaches
great importance to the positive contributions of the
African Union for independence, peace and development causes
of Africa for over 40 years, and supports the efforts by the
African countries to inaugurate the African Union and
promote the process of political and economic integration of
Africa. China will continue to adhere to the basic
principles of “sincerity and friendship, treating each
other as equals, solidarity and cooperation, seeking common
development and facing the future”. It will also, in
such spirit, deepen the cooperation with the
African Union, support the construction of the African Union
and establish a new partnership of long-term stability,
equality and mutual benefit with African
countries.
Q: It has been learnt that
this weekend, the first boundary marker on the Yunnan
Section of the China-Vietnam border will be established. Who
will attend the ceremony? Does the establishment of the
marker mean some breakthrough in the settlement of
China-Vietnam border issue?
A: I have
not learnt about the information concerning the
establishment of the boundary marker and Chinese attendance
at the ceremony in your question. As for the China-Vietnam
border issue, China and Vietnam signed a land border treaty
on December 30, 1999. The land border issue between China
and Vietnam has been settled.
Q:
According to Hong Kong media, China and Russia are going to
hold a counter-terrorism joint military exercise in August.
This will be China’s first military exercise with a
foreign country. Please confirm and make some
comments.
A: Thank you for your
question. I also learnt about it from the media. I know you
might raise this question, and hope to provide a reply.
Regrettably, however, I have not received any information in
this regard. I will brief you if I obtain such information
in the future.
Q: Officials in
Washington said that Pentagon decided to send a military
team to China to search for the remains of the missing
American pilots in Northeast China in the 1950’s. Is
China ready to cooperate with the team? How is the
preparation work going on?
A: For
many years, the Chinese side has, proceeding from the
friendship between the two peoples and in a humanitarian
spirit, had good cooperation with the US side on the issue
of searching for missing US personnel in China. We have
agreed that the US could send people to inspect relevant
sites of missing US personnel during the Cold-War Period in
the near future.
Q: Since June 29th,
North and South Korea have been locked in an intensified
face-off in relevant waters. Recently, the North Korean side
accused the South Korean side of infiltration into the North
Korean waters by two naval vessels and warned about the
possible armed conflicts. Do you think that the current
situation on the Korean peninsula will deteriorate? What
position is China going to adopt?
A:
We have taken note of the relevant reports. The Chinese side
hopes that parties concerned could make efforts to maintain
stability on the peninsula and promote further relaxation of
the tension. The Chinese side has committed itself in peace
and stability on the peninsula, supported the improvement of
the North-South relations, to ultimately realize independent
peaceful reunification on the peninsula. In the future, the
Chinese Government will continue to adhere to such a
position and play a constructive
role.
Q: What’s your comment for
the assassination of Vice President Qadir of Afghanistan
last week. It seems that the country has not realized peace
yet. Against such a backdrop, is China ready to participate
in the reconstruction of
Afghanistan?
A: As for your first
question, I made remarks on this issue last week. The
Chinese side opposes and condemns all forms of terrorism. We
hope and believe that the peace process of Afghanistan will
not be influenced. We also believe that under the leadership
of President Karzai, the Afhan people have the ability to
handle the internal affairs of Afghanistan. Concerning the
second question, the Chinese Government stands ready to
actively participate in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
During President Karzai’s visit to China last January,
President Jiang Zemin promised to provide 150 million USD
worth of assistance. During Foreign Minister Tang
Jiaxuan’s visit to Afghanistan in May, the two sides
signed an economic and technological cooperation agreement
and relevant exchange of letters involving 30 million USD of
assistance gratis. The Chinese side promised to renovate the
Parwan Water Conservancy system, which was originally
constructed with Chinese aid, and help reconstruct the
Bagrami Textile Plant. Now the two sides are conductng
consultations on the details.
Q: The
Nepalese King will soon visit China. What’s your
comment? What military assistance is China going to provide
to Nepal to attack the anti-government armed
forces.
A: China and Nepal are close
neighbors. The China-Nepal friendly relations of cooperation
have been established on the five principles of peaceful
coexistence. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties over
50 years ago, the two countries have treated each other as
equals, respected and sympathized each other, and come to
each other’s aid. The two sides have maintained good
relations of cooperation in political, economic and trade,
cultural and tourist fields. We believe that the visit by
the Nepalese King Birendra to China will boost the further
development of China-Nepal good neighborly and friendly
relations of cooperation. As a friendly neighbor of Nepal,
China firmly supports the measures taken by the Nepalese
Government and King to maintain domestic peace and
stability, and sincerely hopes that Nepal could remain
peace, stability and development.
Q: A parliamentary delegation of
Panama is now in China for a visit. Has new progress been
made in establishment of diplomatic ties between the two
countries?
A: As far as I have
learnt, a parliamentary delegation of Panama is now visiting
China. China stands ready to develop normal friendly
relationship of cooperation with all countries in the world
on the basis of five principles of peaceful coexistence.
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