On the afternoon of June 8, 2006, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao held a regular press conference.

Liu: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen! I will begin with three announcements:

At the invitation of President Hu Jintao, President Hamid Karzai of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan will pay a state visit to China from June 18 to 21.

At the invitation of President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, President Hu Jintao will attend the Second Summit of the Member States of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) to be held in Almaty of Kazakhstan on June 17.

At the invitation of Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif of the Arab Republic of Egypt, President John Agyekum Kufuor of the Republic of Ghana, President Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos of the Republic of Angola, President Thabo Mbeki of the Republic of South Africa, President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the Republic of Uganda, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council will pay official visits to the above seven countries from June 17 to 24.

Now I'm ready to take up your questions.

Q: During the visit of Iranian President Nejad to China, will he meet with President Hu Jintao? Please brief on the agenda of his visit. What proposal will China pass to the Iranian president on the Iranian nuclear issue? It is reported that the new package plan presented by the US, China and other four countries to Iran clearly proposes to guarantee Iran's security in a bid to suspend Iran's uranium enrichment activities. Please confirm and comment on it.

A: As for your first question, now all heads of SCO member states have confirmed that they would attend the SCO summit. Besides, Presidents of observer countries including Mongolia, Pakistan and Iran will attend the summit. Indian Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Deora, President Karzai of Afghanistan, Chairman of CIS Executive Committee Rushaylo and Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN Villacorta will attend the meeting as the guests of host country. On the sideline of the meeting, President Hu Jintao will hold bilateral meetings with these heads of states at the meeting including President Nejad. Now the parties concerned are making consultation over arrangements. I will keep you updated with further information.

As for the Iranian nuclear issue, I think the issue will be touched upon in talks. China and Iran stay in contact over the issue. The two sides will further enhance understanding and make continuous efforts for the peaceful settlement.

As for your last question, the three EU countries, China, the US and Russia reached consensus on the package plan for the Iranian nuclear issue at their meeting in Vienna a few days ago. The EU has informed Iran of the package plans. Recently we have seen feedbacks of various sides, some of which are positive. The package plan is an important foundation for the settlement of Iranian nuclear issue through peaceful negotiation. We hope the plan can get positive feedbacks from all sides, so as to resume the negotiation on the issue as soon as possible and promote a peaceful settlement of the issue.

Q: How do you see bilateral relations between China and observer countries within the framework of SCO?

A: There are four observer countries within SCO. China maintains friendly and good-neighborly relations with the four observer countries. We all have aspiration to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation. We hope to continue to strengthen cooperation with the four countries both in the bilateral scope and within the framework of SCO.

Q: Please introduce the specific date and objective of Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Angola.

A: Premier Wen Jiabao will pay an official visit to the Republic of Angola from June 20th to 21st. During his visit, Premier Wen will hold talks with Angolan President Dos Santos and meet with Prime Minister Nando to have an in-depth exchange of views over bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common interest. Premier Wen will also visit the Hospital of Luanda which China helps building. We believe Premier's visit will further promote an all-round and in-depth development of friendly and cooperative relations between China and Angola.

China and Angola are traditional friendly countries. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have had a smooth development of their friendly and cooperative relations and continuously enhanced political mutual trust. The Angolan government firmly adheres to one China policy and extends precious support to China on many issues.

The economic and trade cooperation between China and Angola has made remarkable progress in recent years, with the bilateral trade volume reaching a historic high of US$6.95 billion in 2005. China actively supports Angola's post-war reconstruction and provides help within our capacity for improving Angolan people's living standards. In addition, the two countries are effectively conducting cooperation in all fields including training for human resources, education, public health, justice and so on.

Q: US President Bush recently met with the visiting Chinese delegation of senior public servants and held a long-time talk. Can you tell us some details?

A: President Bush met with the visiting Chinese delegation of senior public servants headed by Zhouqiang, the first Secretary of Central Secretariat of Communist Youth League, on June 5th at the White House. President Bush made a positive appraisal of President Hu Jintao's visit to the US this April, said that China is an important country of great potential. The US is dedicated to developing constructive and cooperative relations with China and ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in many important fields including military, energy, education and youth.

We have noticed the statement of President Bush. We are ready to make joint efforts with US to actively implement the important consensus reached between President Hu Jintao and President Bush during his visit to US in April and promote China-US constructive and cooperative relations oriented towards 21st century in an all-round way.

 

Q: On when to lift EU's arms embargo against China, EU Trade Commissioner Mandelson said that EU is still considering to urge China to sign some agreements in which China guarantees non-transfer of EU's weapons to the third party. What comment does China have on it?

A: We have repeatedly elaborated on China's position on the removal of EU's arms embargo against China. We think the out-dated embargo should have long been removed. The early removal is conducive to development of China-EU relations and will clear away an important obstacle in China-EU relations. We hope EU can see clearly the development of situations and make correct decision on the issue. As for the agreement in which China promises not to export weapons to other countries as you mentioned, I have never heard of such agreements. China's position on the arms transfer is clear and responsible.

Q: Will the Iranian president visit Beijing before he attends the SCO Summit in Shanghai? Today, Peter Rodman, US Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, held a defense dialogue with the Chinese side. What fields will China and the US focus on to promote military exchange?

A: On your first question, I have not heard of such an arrangement for President Nejad to visit Beijing. Since you are much interested in the Iranian nuclear issue, I'd like to share with you another piece of information. Iranian Vice Foreign Minister Araqchi will visit China today upon invitation. This afternoon, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will meet with him and Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai will hold talks with him. The two sides will exchange views on the Iranian nuclear issue and other issues of common interest.

On your second question, this consultation is the eighth session of defense consultation between Chinese and the US defense authorities. The venue is Beijing. The head of the Chinese delegation is Major-General Zhang Qinsheng, Assistant Chief of General Staff, and the head of the US delegation Assistant Secretary of Defense Rodman. I need to consult the Ministry of Defense for further information. The military-to-military exchange between China and the US is an important part of the bilateral cooperation. On June 5th, when President met with Secretary Zhou Qiang, he said that the exchange and cooperation between the two countries and militaries should be strengthened. Such exchange between our two militaries will contribute to building their mutual trust and pushing forward China-US constructive and cooperative relations.

Q: China has a large investment in the oil and energy in Sudan. How does China view the Darfur crisis and the Sudanese security question?

A: China has always been closely following the situation in Darfur and the humanitarian situation there. Recently, there was some new development on the Darfur issue. China welcomes the agreement reached between the visiting delegation of the UN Security Council and the African Union on the timetable for the handover of the peacekeeping mission in Darfur. China believes that the UN should respect the opinion of the African Union and the Sudanese government on the question of taking over the AU peacekeeping mission. We hope the parties concerned will continue their effort and jointly contribute to the implementation of the Darfur peace agreement, so as to realize the complete peace in Darfur at an early date.

Q: When the G8 summit is held in Russia in July, is it possible for President Hu Jintao to meet with Prime Minister Koizumi? If Prime Minister Koizumi would not visit the Yasukuni shrine again before the summit, will China appreciate Japan's effort to resume the China-Japan summit? China thinks that Japanese leader's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine hurts the feeling of the Chinese people and undermines the political foundation of China-Japan relations. On this ground, China rejects the exchange of summit visits. Does China think such a suspension of visits will also damage China's national interest?

A: On your first question, I have never heard of such an arrangement. We have reaffirmed China's position on many occasions. You should be very clear about it. This position remains unchanged.

On your second question, if Japan is truly sincere on improving China-Japan relations, Japanese leaders should abandon the wrong practice of visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, where class A war criminals are enshrined. They should show their sincerity and treat China-Japan relations with a correct attitude.

On your third question, history proves that harmony will benefit both China and Japan and strife will harm both. The current situation serves the interest of neither side. We wish to see the improvement and development of China-Japan relations rather than the current situation going on. China has a principle for improving and developing China-Japan relations, that is, Japan has to take a correct attitude on the history issue and Japanese leaders have to stop visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, where Class A war criminals of the World War Ⅱ are enshrined. Only in this way will the necessary atmosphere and condition be created for improving and developing our relations. President Hu Jintao has stated China's position and sincerity on improving China-Japan relations on many occasions. We hope Japan will correctly understand China's position and make effort with China towards the same direction. Japan should take a correct attitude towards the history issue, so as to improve bilateral relations and strengthen our cooperation in various fields.

Q: Yesterday, a court in California indicted a mother and her child of assisting an ethnic Chinese engineer in stealing technology of US naval vessel for China. What position does China have? Mandaleson said today that China should make greater effort to remove the non-tariff barrier. Otherwise, it will meet the protectionist backlash from Europe. What comment does China have?

A: On your first question, I have said on many occasions that the so-called China's stealth of US military secret through some channel is completely groundless and out of ulterior motive.

On your second question, protectionism, whatever pretext it may take, does not comply with the current trend and rule of international trade. We attach importance to China-EU trade and economic cooperation and the solution of differences in trade. We hope our two sides will resolve these problems through dialogue and consultation.

Q: It's reported that the U.S. Government will refer piracy in China to the WTO in months. What's China's position? Some Japanese groups visiting China said today in a press conference that though China held a positive attitude towards the IPR protection, piracy was still rampant. What's your comment?

A: The Chinese Government sets high store by the IPR protection and has launched harsh strike against the IPR infringement. Accordingly, we have stepped up our effort in legislation and law enforcement. However, it takes time and demands cooperation with other countries. China is responsible and sincere on this question. The protection of IPR is in the interest not only of the countries concerned, but also of China. As for the disputes between China and other countries, including some countries' concerns over China's IPR protection, we're willing to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation through dialogue on an equal footing, so as to jointly contribute to IPR protection.

Q: It's reported that Japanese Yasukuni Shrine starts distributing brochures in Chinese and Korean to tourists free of charge. The brochures alleged that the war criminals at the Tokyo trial after the Second World War were unilaterally convicted by the International Military Tribunal of Far East under the plot of the UN. What's your comment? Please brief us on the agenda and purpose of Premier Wen's seven African countries visit.

A: On your first question, the trial of the International Military tribunal of Far East brought meted out due punishment for the Japanese war criminals, who waged the aggression war and stained their own hands with the blood of the victimized people. It safeguarded international justice and human dignity. Any challenge to the trial is unpopular and doomed to failure, only to be strongly condemned by the international community, including the majority of the Japanese people.

On your second question, this visit is the second tour of Premier Wen to Africa. He will hold meetings with the leaders in the 7 nations, exchanging views on bilateral relations, China-Africa relations and issues of common interest in the spirit of deepening friendship, enhancing mutual trust, expanding cooperation and seeking common development.

This 7-nation African tour is also oriented towards our relations with the entire African continent. It's another major action in China's diplomacy towards Africa after the issuance of China's Africa Policy and President Hu's successful visit to 3 African nations. The visit aims to consolidate and develop the traditional friendship between China and Africa, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and establish and develop a new China-Africa strategic partnership. We believe that the tour will further strengthen the friendship and cooperation between China and the 7 nations and push forward China-Africa friendly and cooperative relations.

Q: A founder of the Google search engine said that he would reconsider whether to filter the sensitive words under China's request. Will China cooperate with Google?

A: China holds a positive attitude toward cooperation with Google in the information area. Any economic and trade cooperation should be conducted within the framework of law. We hope that corporations operating in China can abide by Chinese law.

Q: Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister went to Pakistan and held a meeting. Please brief us on the details.

A: China and Pakistan held the 3rd round consultation on counter-terrorism in Islamabad on June 6th. Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai and his counterpart Hyder exchange views on international and regional counter-terrorist situation, China-Pakistan counter-terrorist cooperation and the UN's role in the counter-terrorist campaign. China appreciates the endeavor and active position of Pakistan on counter-terrorism.

Q: The US invited China to observe the military exercise near the Guam. Will China accept the invitation?

A: China will accept the invitation and send observers to the military exercise near the Guam entitled "Valiant Shield 2006".

If there are no other questions, thank you for your presence. See you!