Q: What is your comment on Putin’s China trip?

A: The visit by Russian President Putin to China has just ended. He has left Beijing for India. Putin has come to China at the invitation of President Jiang Zemin. During the visit, the two sides had an overall review of the bilateral ties over the past decade. A plan has been formulated for the future development and deepening of the partnership of strategic coordination. The two sides also set out the direction and key areas of future cooperation. The two heads of state had an in-depth exchange of views on the major international issues of the day and reached important agreements in many areas. New momentum has been added to the sustained and steady development of the bilateral relations. A joint declaration is also signed during the visit. The 4,600-word joint declaration is divided into 8 parts, covering political, economic and trade, scientific and technological, educational, cultural and other aspects of the bilateral relations, as well as agreements on international issues and important questions of the Asia-Pacific region. I believe that President Putin’s visit is a complete success.

Q: During his visit, did President Putin talk with the Chinese side about South Asia, especially the relations between India and Pakistan?

A: During the meetings, President Putin and President Jiang Zemin had an exchange of views on major international and regional issues. So far, I have not heard that the two sides have discussed about the relations between India and Pakistan. President Putin has started his visit to India. We welcome Russia’s positive role in safeguarding the stability of South Asia and pushing for dialogue between India and Pakistan.

Q: What is China’s comment on the remarks by the Australian Prime Minister for a pre-emptive strike against terrorist forces? 

A: The Chinese Government is resolutely against all sorts of terrorism. At the same time, it holds that the relevant strikes should be clearly targeted basing upon concrete evidence. The purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the relevant norms of the international laws should be abided by. It is a consensus of the international community.

Q: The Sino-Russian Joint Declaration has mentioned that Russia adopts an active attitude towards its relations with the ASEAN. It also claims that China is willing to see the development of a cooperative dialogue mechanism between Russia and the ASEAN and is ready to provide necessary assistance. Does it mean that Russia will participate in the 10+3 mechanism? What kind of assistance will China provide?

A: In the Joint Declaration, China and Russia hold that the ASEAN is playing a constructive role in establishing a new type of state-to-state relations in the Asia-Pacific region. The two also believe that the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is a useful mechanism in conducting political dialogue on regional security issues. The two sides reiterate their willingness to have close cooperation within the ARF framework. The Russian side has repeated its view that the 10+3 mechanism is playing an active role in carrying out dialogue and cooperation.  China is ready to provide necessary assistance to Russia in its efforts to set up links with the mechanism in areas of common interest. I have given you in detail some views on the cooperation between China and Russia within the 10+3 framework. I have no more to offer at this stage.

Q: President Putin will visit India. What is your comment on the relations between India, China and Russia?

A: I have just talked about China’s ties with Russia. On Sino-Indian relations, the ties have enjoyed a sound momentum of steady development in recent years. The two countries have maintained high-level visits. Political mutual trust is on the rise. Economic cooperation and trade have been gradually expanded. There are exchanges in more and more areas. It is our hope that Sino-Indian relations will enjoy further development on the current foundation.

Q: Many observers believe that President Putin’s visit has provided an opportunity for the improvement of their relations with the United States. What is the impact of the development of Sino-Russian relations upon Sino-U.S. and Russian-U.S. relations?

A: Both China and Russia are ready to develop all-round friendly relations and cooperation with other countries of the world. The two also value their ties with the United States. Nothing in the meetings, the talks, the Joint Declaration or President Putin’s address to the Peking University this morning is directed at any third party. One of the important principles of the Sino-Russian relations is non-alliance, non-confrontation and non-targeting at a third country. The development of Sino-Russian relations will contribute to world peace and development.

Q: The deadline for Iraq’s list of weapons to the UN is coming close. Does China believe that Iraq is truly and fully cooperating with the UN? If Iraq does not provide the list of weapons in time and continue to deny the possession of weapons of mass destruction, will China be satisfied? If other members of the UN Security Council are not satisfied with Iraq, what, in China’s view, should be the next step?

A: The inspection by the UN weapons inspectors in Iraq has been going on for only a few days. At the moment, they have not come up with a complete report yet. China holds that the relevant UNSC resolutions on Iraq should be earnestly implemented in full. On the two follow-up questions, we believe that what is imperative now is the earnest and strict implementation of the just passed UNSC resolution 1441, so that the Iraqi issue could be solved politically and diplomatically  within the UN framework.

Q: Does China believe that Australia has the right to launch pre-emptive strikes overseas against terrorist forces? Many Asian countries do not agree with the proposal by the Australian Prime Minister.

A: I have just stated our position on the pre-emptive strike proposal by the Australian Prime Minister. At the same time, we have taken note of the attitude of some Asian countries on this proposal.

Q: What is your comment on President Bush’s address on Iraq yesterday? The United States has asked many countries to give it support in case of a strike against Iraq. Has it raised such request to China? What is China’s response?

A: In our view, the Iraqi issue should be solved politically and diplomatically within the UN framework. What is imperative now is for the relevant parties to earnestly and strictly implement UNSC resolution 1441. As for whether the American side has asked for China’s involvement in a military strike against Iraq, the Chinese side has no information in this regard. I have no knowledge of the specific issue that you have just mentioned.

Q: Has China bought 4 sets of radar system from Ukraine? Where are they now? Has any third party asked China to re-sell its radar systems?

A: My colleagues have clarified this issue on several occasions. On the Iraqi issue, China has always strictly abided by the relevant UNSC resolutions on sanctions. There is no such a question as re-selling radar systems to Iraq. The friendly cooperation between China and Ukraine in various areas, including in the military field, has followed the international practices and strictly conformed with their respective international obligations.

Q: What is your comment on the just concluded meeting on Afghanistan in Germany?

A: We have noted that the meeting had discussions on peace, stability and reconstruction in Afghanistan. Peace and reconstruction are two sides of a coin. China has closely followed the development of the Afghan situation. It has actively participated in the post-war reconstruction of Afghanistan and provided humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan within its capabilities. It is China’s sincere hope that the various ethnic groups and parties in Afghanistan would proceed from the national interest and earnestly implement the Bonn accord of last year, so as to achieve an early national reconciliation and reconstruction of the homeland.

Q: Today, the vote will be held in Monaco on the host city of the World Expo. Shanghai is well expected to win. We have noted that China has lately bidded for several major international sports events or expositions, such as the 2008 Olympic Games, the Winter Olympic Games and the World Expo. What is the significance of such events? Does China hope to show off its achievements through the activities? Does China believe that the events would contribute to China’s development? Does China have some other considerations?

A: After Beijing’s successful bid for the 2008 Olympic Games, Shanghai is now bidding for Expo’2010. With the growth of China’s overall national strength, China is willing to play a bigger role in and make greater contributions to the  exchanges of the world in various fields. Through hosting of the Olympic Games, China hopes to promote sports exchanges of the world, so as to help enhance understanding and friendship among the peoples of the world. It is China’s hope that through the Expo’2010, world economic development will be promoted for the common progress of the peoples of the world. Shanghai has its unique advantages. In the past 150 years, the exposition has never been held in a developing country. If Shanghai wins the bid, it will be the first time for such event to be held in a developing country. It is something of major significance in itself. If China is successful, I believe that Shanghai will make new contributions to the world economic development and the exchanges among the peoples of the world.

Q: During his visit, President Putin met Vice President Hu Jintao. Has he also met other newly elected members of the CPC Standing Committee?

A: As far as I know, President Putin first had talks with President Jiang Zemin. Then he met Vice President Hu Jintao, NPC Chairman Li Peng and Premier Zhu Rongji. I have not heard that he met with other newly elected members of the CPC Standing Committee.