问答题 Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Yu's Regular Press Conference on January 20, 2009
On January 20, 2009, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Yu held a regular press conference and answered questions on Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to four European countries and the EU Headquarters and attendance to the annual meeting of Worm Economic Forum, China-US relations, the situation on the Korean Peninsula and etc.
Jiang Yu: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have an announcement to start with.
At the invitation of President Merz of the Swiss Confederation, Chancellor Merkel of Germany, Prime Minister Zapatero of Spain, Prime Minister Brown of the United Kingdom, President Barroso of the European Commission and Executive Chairman Schwab of the World Economic Forum, Premier Wen Jiabao will pay official visits to the above four countries and the headquarters of the European Union, and attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2009 in Davos, Switzerland from January 27 to February 2, 2009.
Now the floor is open.
Q: Please brief us on the purpose of Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Europe.
A: We hope the visit could help the international community to boost confidence, consolidate consensus, cooperate in unity and work together to better tackle the current financial crisis. We also believe that the visit will strengthen strategic consensus between China and the four European countries, deepen bilateral pragmatic cooperation and promote the in-depth development of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.
You are welcome to attend the briefing hosted by Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Hongbo on Premier Wen's visit after the regular press conference on Thursday, January 22.
Q: It's been almost a year since the poisoned dumpling incident happened. Both China and Japan have victims. The unresolved incident has become a pending diplomatic issue between the countries. How do you comment on this?
A: The Chinese Government attaches great importance to food safety and public health. We paid great attention to the issue you mentioned and conducted active and earnest investigation. Relevant authorities have also engaged in adequate communication with Japan. We hope relevant authorities from both countries could continue to strengthen investigation and cooperation and find out the truth as soon as possible.
Q: Two questions. First of all, can you give us the precise dates of which Premier Wen Jiabao will visit each of the countries? Secondly on the question of North Korea. North Korea has recently made hostile remarks about South Korea and has also claimed that it has converted its plutonium stocks into weapons. Is it going to affect China' s friendly relations with North Korea?
A: With regard to the arrangements of Premier Wen's visit to Europe, we are coordinating actively with relevant countries and parties. You may raise this question on Thursday's briefing.
With regard to your second question, as a close neighbour of the Korean Peninsula, China always hopes that the north and south of the Korean Peninsula will improve relations through dialogue and achieve reconciliation and cooperation, which is in the common interests of the people of the peninsula and also the common expectation of the international community. It is the Chinese Government's consistent position to push forward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Q: What does China hope for the bilateral relations under the new Obama Administration and what area does the Chinese Government foresee as the biggest source of potential tension with the U.S.? Is Taiwan going to continue to be an issue, in particular the sale of U.S. arms to Taiwan?
A: A sound and developing Sino-U.S. relationship is not only in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, but also conducive to peace, stability and development of the whole world. The current Sino-U.S. relations are at an important stage of serving as a link between the past and future. China is willing to work with the U.S. to view and handle bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, strengthen dialogue, exchanges and cooperation, respect and accommodate core interest of each other and promote the long-term, healthy and stable development of Sino-U.S. constructive relations of cooperation in the new period.
With regard to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, our position is clear and consistent. China strongly opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. It is the obligation of the U.S. side to abide by the three joint communiqués between China and the U.S., especially August 17th Joint Communiqué, stop all arms sales and military contact with Taiwan, deal with the Taiwan issue cautiously and properly and take concrete actions to support the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.
Q: Another person died today from bird flu and that's the third victim in just over two weeks in China. Is the Chinese Government concerned about the threat of bird flu as the lunar New Year is approaching?
A: Cases of highly pathogenic bird flu have been reported recently and we have contacted the Ministry of Health for relevant information. The Ministry of Health has taken relevant prevention and control measures and reported to WHO and informed HK, Macao, Taiwan and some countries. The Chinese Government has always taken the issue seriously. Current cases are sporadic and individual.
Q: The China-EU summit was cancelled last December. Is Premier Wen going to mend the relationship with the EU through his visit?
A: China's determination and set policy on developing comprehensive strategic partnership with the EU remain unchanged. Premier Wen Jiabao will visit the EU Headquarters at the invitation of President Barroso. Both China and the EU hope the visit will further strengthen mutual understanding and trust, expand strategic consensus, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and promote the continuous development of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership in the new year.
Q: Can you brief us on Chinese envoy's visit to the DPRK? Has he met with Kim Jong-il?
A: I don't know which visit you are referring to. Are you talking about Assistant Foreign Minister Hu Zhengyue's visit to the DPRK lately? We have released information on that visit. As for other visits, I don't have information right now.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the DPRK. Having set Year 2009 as the Year of Friendship, the two countries will hold a series of colorful commemorative activities. We hope the contacts and exchanges will help to consolidate bilateral traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and promote China-DPRK friendly relations of cooperation.
If there are no more questions, you are welcome to stay for the briefing by Ambassador Sun Bigan, Chinese Envoy on the Middle East Issue, on his recent visits to Middle East countries here at 3:30 p.m. See you in a moment!