On the afternoon of July 4, 2006, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Jiang Yu held a regular press conference.

Jiang: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen! I would like to begin with two announcements:

At the invitation of Vice President Zeng Qinghong, Spanish Prince of Asturia Felipe De Borbony Grecia will pay an official visit to China from July 12th to 14th.

Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of State Council Hui Liangyu will visit DPRK from July 10th to 15th and head a good-will delegation to attend the ceremony for the 45th anniversary of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between China and DPRK.

Now, the floor is open.

Q: Please brief us on the talks between State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and President of the Democratic Party of Japan Ichiro Ozawa. Ozawa requested China to exert greater effort to urge the DPRK to abandon its nuclear program. What's China's reaction? It is reported that the US and Japan are pushing for a Security Council resolution condemning the DPRK for its attempt to test missiles. How do you respond to that?

A: Yesterday, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met with Ichiro Ozawa. This afternoon, President Hu Jintao will also meet with him. The Chinese Government attaches great importance to China-Japan relations. The healthy and stable development of China-Japan relations will not only serve the fundamental interest of the two countries and two peoples, but also benefit the peace and common development of Asia and the world as a whole. We hope that Japan will work with China, take concrete measures and get China-Japan relations back to the track of healthy and stable development.

Yesterday, Ozawa said in the talks that Japan-China relations are crucial. The two sides should make joint effort and develop bilateral relations with a rock-firm attitude.

You asked about the Six-Party Talks and the possible missile test by the DPRK. China holds that to promote the early resumption of the talks is not only in the interest of the parties concerned, but also conducive to the peace and stability. We have all along been making assiduous effort. Now, China is making consultation with other parties and seeking a conducive way to promote the process of the talks and discuss the concern of different parties.

Q: It is reported that China proposed to other parties to the Six-Party Talks to hold an informal meeting. What effort is China making to resume the talks? Japan and China will hold a consultation on the East China Sea in Beijing over this weekend. Some experts believe the consultation will make no progress before Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi leaves office. What expectation does China have for the consultation?

A: China has been actively promoting the Six-Party Talks and has made assiduous effort to this end. Now, China is making consultation with other parties to explore a helpful way to promote the Six-Party Talks and discuss the concerns of different parties.

Through discussion between China and Japan, the two sides agreed to hold the six round of consultation on the East China Sea in Beijing on July 8th to 9th. China maintains that in the current context, "shelving differences and seeking common development" will be conducive to the stability at the East China Sea and the overall development of China-Japan relations. It is also in the interest of both sides. We are willing to continue to work with Japan to gradually solve relevant issues through dialogue and consultation.

Q: What's China's reaction to the presidential election in Mexico?

A: On July 2, Mexico smoothly held an election, and the final result is yet to be announced. China has always attached great importance to developing China-Mexico friendly relations and cooperation. Over the past 34 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations, the two countries have achieved smooth development in the mutually beneficial cooperation on all fronts. We are willing to make joint efforts with Mexico to steadily deepen and expand China-Mexico strategic partnership.

Q: Does the draft law on emergency response stipulate that foreign media will also be fined for violating the rules on report without the consent of the Chinese Government? A Vatican delegation visited China last week. Can you tell us something about the visit?

A: I suggest you should refer your question to the competent authority. The Chinese Government has always paid much attention to increasing the transparency of emergency response. We set up mechanisms to ensure the unified, prompt and accurate release of information on emergent incidents and their treatment. To further improve our mechanism of releasing information on emergency response and make it more transparent, the draft law on emergency response under deliberation has included provisions to this end.

As far as I understand, the provisions on the management of report on emergent events in the draft law were made on the basis of the practical experience over many years and conform to the current practice. They are aimed at facilitating reporters' coverage of emergent events, guaranteing the legitimate right of journalists to interview, improving our management and ensuring the media report to be more timely and accurate, so as to better handle the emergent events and preserve social stability and people's interest.

On your question of Vatican, I don't have any information to share with you. China has consistently taken a positive attitude towards improving relations with Vatican. We are willing to have constructive dialogue with Vatican on the basis of the two principles.

Q: Does China have any solution to the recent Palestine-Israel conflict?

A: We express our deep concern over the current tension between Israel and Palestine. We call on Israel to exercise restraint and immediately stop military action. Meanwhile, we call on Palestine to actively cooperate with the mediation effort of the parties concerned, immediately release hostage and create conditions for proper solution of this matter.

 

Q: What's your comment on the situation in South Asia?

A: China attaches great importance to our relations with countries in South Asia. We sincerely hope South Asia can maintain peace and stability. Both India and Pakistan are friendly neighbors of China. We welcome the effort of India and Pakistan to improve their bilateral relations and to solve existing problems.

This year is China-India "Friendly Year". The Indian speaker of Lower House is now visiting China. State Councilor Wu Bangguo met with him yesterday, and emphasized that China and India as two neighboring countries, share a 2000-year history of friendly exchange. The communication and cooperation between our two countries have constantly deepened. China and India announced the establishment of strategic cooperative partnership last year, which is the landmark of a new phase of bilateral relations. The development of China-India relations is not only in the common interest of our two peoples, but also conducive to regional peace and stability.

China and Pakistan are all-weather, all-dimensional cooperative partners. Our two countries have a time-honored friendship. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan will hold a number of celebrating events. We hope that China-Pakistan strategic partnership can be further improved through our joint effort.

Q: Japan has made representations to China on the oceanological survey a Chinese ship in Japan's exclusive economic zone. What's your comment?

A: The Diaoyu Island and its adjacent islands are Chinese territory since ancient time. China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands. China will not accept any Japan's representations on the premise that the Diaoyu Island is a territory of Japan.

Q: China and India will reopen the Nathu La Pass, which has been closed for 44 years. What impact will this have on China-India relations?

A: The two governments have signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of India on Expanding Border Trade in 2003, and have agreed to open boarder market through the Nathu La Pass. Both sides agreed to open boarder trade at Nathu La on July 6th. We believe this will further promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation and the development of bilateral relations.

Q: The upcoming G8 summit will be held on Thursday in Moscow. It seemed that the Iranian nuclear issue has claimed priority on the agenda. What new consensus will be reached among the relevant parties on this in your opinion?

A: China holds that any discussion on the Iranian Nuclear issue should help to build up consensus, and promote the proper solution of the issue through diplomatic channel. We think that the Iranian nuclear issue is at a critical junction. The overriding task now is to resume the talks at an early date. We hope that Iran can attach importance to the concern of the international community, and respond to the package resolution at an early date. In the meantime, we also hope the relevant parties can keep patience, exercise restraint, consider seriously the reasonable concern of Iran and maintain contact with Iran, so as to create proper atmosphere to resume talks.

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