Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao's Press Conference on 4 April 2006 |
2006-04-04 00:00 |
Liu:Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I will start with two announcements. At the invitation of President Hu Jintao, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili will pay a state visit to At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister Gilowska of the Republic of Poland, Deputy Prime Minister Havel of the Czech Republic, Deputy Prime Minister Rusmajli of the With that, I am happy to take your questions.
Q: The
A: At the invitation of State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhou Yongkang, a delegation headed by the US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff visited On the issue of illegal immigration, the Chinese government firmly opposes and cracks down on illegal immigration of any form. The Chinese government has a resolute attitude in this regard. On the repatriation of illegal immigrants, we are ready to have illegal immigrants of Chinese nationality repatriated from relevant countries once their identities are confirmed. At the same time, the issue of illegal immigration is relevantly complicated with various factors involved. Some countries grant some people the so-called "political asylum", which is not conducive to anti-illegal immigration. We hope relevant countries refrain from politicizing the issue.
Q: It is said that during Chertoff's visit to
A: In recent years, both sides have taken steps to facilitate two-way trips for study, working or business, including issuing multiple-entry visas. At the same time, there are still a lot more to do for further facilitation. Both sides agreed to continue to strengthen cooperation so as to provide more convenience for the normal personnel exchanges.
Q:It has been one year since anti-Japan Demonstration last April. Would you like to comment? What is your expectation for future China-Japan relations? Last week President Hu Jintao said so long as the Japanese leaders stop visiting the Yasukuni Shrine, high-level talks between
A: On your first question, we have made our position clear on what happened last April, of which you should be well aware. It is nearly one year since then, regrettably, we find no effective improvement and development in China-Japan political relations. The responsibility for the current situation is neither on the Chinese side, nor on the Japanese people, but on Japanese leaders' erroneous attitudes towards history and repeated visits to the Yasukuni Shrine. It hurts the feelings of both peoples and undermines the political basis for bilateral relations. Not long ago, President Hu Jintao met with the seven Japan-China friendship groups and expressed clearly the attitude to improve China-Japan relations. President Hu's remarks fully demonstrate the sincerity of the Chinese government to improve and develop China-Japan relations, which should get positive response from the Japanese side. Japanese leaders' visit to the Yasukuni Shrine is a major event bearing on the political basis of China-Japan relations and the feelings of our two peoples. The persistence in adopting a wrong attitude and paying homage to the Yasukuni Shrine where class-A criminals are worshiped is not conducive to the improvement and development of China-Japan relations. We urge once again the Japanese side to correct its wrongdoings and create conditions for the improvement and development of China-Japan relations.
Q:
A: This year marks the 5th anniversary of the establishment of SCO. According to the consensus reached among the member state leaders, the
Q: The Chinese Defense Minister is visiting the DPRK, and could you tell us more about that?
A: At the invitation of Kim Il Chol, Minister of People's Armed Forces of the DPRK, Pham Van Tra, Vietnamese Defense Minister, Najib Tun Razak, Malaysia Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Teo Chee Hean, Singaporean Defense Minister, and Yoon Kwang-ung, ROK Defense Minister, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and State Councilor
Q: On the visit by the President of
A: Energy cooperation is an important part of China-Turkmenistan trade and economic cooperation. Both sides hold a positive attitude towards the mutually-beneficial and reciprocal energy cooperation. After the meeting between President Hu and the President of Turkmenistan, both sides signed a series of agreements, including energy agreements. Since the agreements are signed by relevant companies, I don't know much about the details. But I believe practical energy cooperation is included. As for the specifics, you'd better check with relevant parties. On your second question, I came across relevant reports today. About the uranium cooperation between Premier Wen paid a very successful visit to
Q: About
A: This visit arranged by
Q: Recently, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said that although Chinese and Japanese leaders do not see eye to eye on the Yasukuni Shrine,
A: I want to reiterate that a correct understanding of history and handling of the visits to the Yasukuni Shrine constitute the political basis for China-Japan relations.
Q: Just now you said that Chinese people took to the street last year to protest Japanese leaders' paying homage to the Yasukuni Shrine and that the demonstration was not "anti-Japanese". Yet at the same time we should differentiate violence from demonstration in the general sense. It was an objective fact that during last year's demonstration, some restaurants and enterprises irrelevant with the Japanese government were attacked.
A: History itself and the issues arising thereof are of different nature. Japanese leaders' paying homage to the Yasukuni Shrine where Class A criminals are worshiped was the main reason causing the indignation of the Chinese people. It was also the main reason leading to the current grave difficulties of the Sino-Japanese relations to suffer. As to the demonstration last year, we have stated our stance time and again. We opposed the extreme acts which occurred during the demonstration. Many Japanese correspondents are quite interested in this issue and might write some reviewing articles. It is my view that no matter how one writes about it, it is essential to have a clear understanding on the substance and sticking point of the problems in Sino-Japanese relations and to do more to analyze on how to take correct measures to solve the existing issue between Sino-Japanese relations.
Let me reiterate again that
Q: The railway linking
A: We understand your interest, but many people would like to travel with the first train. The Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working vigorously on it.
Q: Is President Hu Jintao's upcoming visit to the
A: President Hu Jintao's visit to the
If there are no further questions, I'll leave it there. Thank you.
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