On 17 December Spokesperson Liu Jianchao held the regular press conference and announced a piece of news.  At the invitation of President Jiang Zemin of the People’s Republic of China, President Nursultan Nazarbayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan will pay a state visit to China from December 22 to 25, 2002.

Q: US Secretary of State Powell said that the US Government made a preliminary judgment that the dossier submitted by Iraq on its weapons of mass destruction had some problems and adopted a suspicious attitude towards its list. What is the view of the Chinese side?

A: On Iraqi weapon inspection and the dossier submitted by Iraq, we have taken note that various sides have their own views. After receiving the dossier, the Chinese side organized at once a trans-department team consisting of experts on chemical weapons, biological weapons, missiles and nuclear experts to work day after night to conduct serious study and analyses on the dossier. Experts on Arabian language were called in to make necessary translation. Since it involves tens of thousands pages in the dossier and the VCDs, the evaluation is still going on.

Q: The White House insisted that it would not negotiate with the DPRK unless it dismantles its nuclear weapons. Do you think it viable?  Japan stated in its joint statement issued with the US recently that it was thinking of developing defensive missile system. It seems to have something to do with the nuclear threat from the DPRK. Does the Chinese side think it logic?

A: On your first question, the Chinese side has stated its position on  the Korean nuclear question on many occassions and the position has not changed. We are in favor of dialog to solve the question. At the same time, we hope that parties concerned can, proceeding from the overall situation of maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula, implement the obligations in the nuclear framework agreement and solve the question peacefully through dialog and contact.

On your second question, I have not seen the content of the joint statement you mentioned. The Chinese side’s position on the US development of missile defense system is clear and consistent. We are not in favor of the missile system developed by the US. We maintain that various sides should conduct serious and conscientious dialog to seek a solution that accommodates the security interest of all sides without damaging the international efforts on disarmament and arms control. We are not in favor of establishing the so-called missile defense system in the region.

Q: What is your comment on the US-Middle East Partnership Initiative put forward by the US Secretary of State Powell last week. Has the US side notified the Chinese side in advance?

A: We have taken note of the US-Middle East Partnership Initiative. We hope to see early peace, security and stability in the Middle East so as to create conditions for the common development, progress, and prosperity of the countries in the region.  

We have not received relevant news beforehand.

Q: Please introduce the China-US human rights dialog and the visit to China by Admiral Fargo of the US Pacific Headquarters.

A: On your first question, the 13th round of China-US human rights dialog was held in Beijing from 16 to 17 December. Deputy Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met with the delegation. The Dialog was co-chaired by Director General Li Baodong of the Department of International Organizations and US Assistant Secretary Craner in charge of human rights affairs. Both sides introduced their own human rights situation and held extensive and in-depth exchange of views on judicial reform, the freedom of religious belief, exchanges between the two in this field and other issues of common interest, thus enhancing mutual understanding, narrowing differences, and expanding common grounds. Both sides maintained that the dialog was friendly, candid, constructive and yielded positive results. Both sides agreed to continue their human rights dialog and exchange on the basis of equality and mutual respect. During the dialog the US delegation also visited the Department of United Front of the CPC Central Committee, Ministry of Justice, State Administration on Religious Affairs and the Youth College for Political Science and will visit Xingjiang.

On your second question, Admiral Fargo of the US Pacific Headquarters arrived in Beijing on the evening of 12 December to start his visit in China. During his stay, General Liang Guanglie, Chief of the General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army, General Xiong Guangkai, Deputy Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met with him respectively. He left Beijing for Chengdu, Nanjing, Shanghai and Ninbo on 14th. Commander Shi Yunsheng of the Navy, Commander Wang Jianmin of the Chengdu Military District, Commander Zhu Wenquan of the Nanjing Military District, Commander Zhao Guojun of the East China Sea Fleet, and Commander Wang Wenhui of the Shanghai Garrison met with him respectively. During the visit, the two sides had a candid exchange of views in a friendly atmosphere on international and regional security situation, military relations between the two countries, Taiwan question and other issues of common interest. Both sides maintain that China and the US shoulder responsibility to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world at large. Both sides maintain that the visit enhanced mutual understanding and they were willing to work together to make positive contribution to their constructive and cooperative relations. Admiral Fargo also visited the air force, army reserve and navy.

Q: Assistant Secretary Craner will go to Xinjiang. Who will he meet with and what is his agenda?

A: I will make enquiry for you. But it is my understanding that leading officials of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region will meet with him and the two sides will exchange views on issues of common interest, including ethnic question, freedom of religious belief.

Q: The China-US human rights dialog is now going on and Admiral Fargo of the Pacific Headquarters is visiting China now. How do you evaluate the China-US relations at this stage?

A: Last week I commented on this occasion on the development of the China-US relations this year. Not long ago, during Deputy Secretary Armitage’s visit in China, Chinese leaders and leading officials from the Foreign Ministry reviewed with him the development of bilateral relations this year. Both sides held positively the development of bilateral relations, their cooperation in economic and trade field, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation and their close consultations in major international issues. Both sides expressed their willingness to implement the consensus reached between President Jiang and the US leaders during his visit to the US, so as to further enhance understanding, expand cooperation, and work together to contribute to world peace and stability. At the same time, both sides also said that they would further enhance their mutual understanding, strengthen their exchange and cooperation in all fields and handle properly their difference in the spirit of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and seeking common grounds while putting aside differences so as to push the China-US constructive and cooperative relations forward. .

Q: Can you confirm whether Admiral Fargo stated during his meeting with General Liang Guanglie that the US did not support Taiwan’s independence? Did the two sides touched upon the Taiwan question when Admiral Fargo visited the Nanjing Military District? Will the US Pacific District and the Nanjing Military District establish contact channel to avoid mistakes?

A: I have not taken part in the talks between General Liang Guanglie and Admiral Fargo. But on the question of Taiwan, the US side has stated once again that it is against Taiwan’s independence, which is the policy of the US Government and the military. During General Fargo’s visit to China, leading officials from the Chinese side including the military had a wide exchange of views with him, the question of Taiwan included.

As to whether to build a channel of contact between the US Pacific headquarters and the Nanjing military district, I am not clear about this specific issue. But I think that the frequent exchanges between the Chinese and US militaries demonstrate the willingness of the two sides to strengthen their exchange and cooperation in the field so as to contribute to the bilateral relations. During General Xiong Guangkai’s visit to the US, the US side expressed that exchange and contact between the two militaries will help promote the mutual understanding and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation between the two militaries.

Q: Kuwaiti Chief of the Joint Staff arrived in Beijing today. Please introduce his visit. Will the two sides talk about the Iraqi question?

A: I need to make enquiry about the specifics of the news you mentioned. If he is in China, I think the Iraqi question will be talked about.

Q: It is reported by some Chinese media that China had some contact with Nato. Please confirm. Is China intended to conduct cooperation and establish partnership with Nato?

A: I have not seen the report you mentioned but I can introduce to you the relations between China and Nato. China adheres to the principled stand of non-alliance and not attending any military alliance and it remains unchanged. We hope to foster a new security concept in the international community featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation, and to work together to build an international environment of peace, long-term stability, security and reliability in accordance with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter. To this end, China is willing to have dialog and consultation with all sides including Nato. The contact between China and Nato is at working level.