On the afternoon of July 11, 2006, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Jiang Yu held a regular press conference.

At the invitation of President Vladimir Putin of Russia, President Hu Jintao will attend the outreach session of the G-8 Summit to be held in St. Petersburg, Russia on July 17. The session will discuss energy security, prevention and control of epidemic diseases, education, African development and other topics. Before that, President Hu Jintao will also hold a group meeting on July 16 with leaders from India, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico and the Republic of Congo, in which they will exchange views on issues of mutual interest.

Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai will hold a briefing here on President Hu Jintao attending the outreach session of the G-8 at 10:30 am on July 12 (tomorrow). You are welcome to attend.

At the invitation of President Hu Jintao, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden will pay a state visit to China from July 17 to 22.

At the invitation of Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong of Cambodia will pay an official visit to China from July 13 to 16.

Now, the floor is open.

Q: Chinese representative to the UN circulated a draft chairman's statement at a close-door meeting of the Security Council on 10th. How do you characterize the statement? Japan and the US are considering revising the draft resolution involving sanction on the DPRK. What draft can China accept?

A: The Security Council members have made a number of consultations on the DPRK's missile test and reached consensus to some extent. But there are still differences and the member states will continue their discussion. China has participated in all the consultations with a active and responsible attitude. We believe that it is appropriate to adopt a chairman's statement at the Security Council, and some other countries are of the same view. The purpose of the chairman's statement is to maintain the peace and stability of the Peninsula and Northeast Asia, preserve the solidarity of the Security Council and promote the solution of the issue through diplomatic means.

We believe that the draft resolution submitted by Japan and other countries is an overreaction. If passed, it will intensify the problem, escalate tension, undermine the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia, compromise the efforts to resume the Six-Party Talks and split the Security Council. Substantial revision has to be made on the draft.

Q: The US representative to the UN said that the voting was postponed to leave China more time for persuading the DPRK through diplomatic efforts. If the Chinese delegation returns with an empty hand, will China support the draft resolution? Please brief on the schedule of Hill's visit to China. Will Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei come back to meet with him?

A: Now, Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei is accompanying him in the DPRK. During the visit, Vice Minister Wu met with DPRK Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Kwan and made untiring effort to ease the situation and promote the Six-Party Talks.

China is gravely concerned about the current situation and we expressed our position to the DPRK side. Over the past days, China made close consultations with the DPRK, the US and other parties concerned. We will as always commit ourselves to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the peace and stability of Northeast Asia.

The US told us that US Assistant Secretary Hill will arrive in Beijing this afternoon. Now, the two sides are discussing on the arrangement.

Q: Will Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei return to Beijing ahead of schedule?

A: Vice Minister Wu Dawei is still in the DPRK. I have not heard that he will change his schedule.

Q: It is reported that Swedish ship Goteborg, an imitation of an ancient ship, will arrive in Guangzhou soon. Please share some information on that.

A: At the invitation of President Hu Jintao, the Swedish King will visit China on July 17 to 22. As for the ship Goteborg, it is an imitation of the ship Goteborg in 1738 and built with the original technology at that time. In October 2005, the ship departed from Goteborg, Sweden, and navigated to China along the ancient sea route in the 18th century. It will arrive in Guangzhou on July 17. The ship Goteborg is a symbol of the over 270-year history of friendly exchange between China and Sweden, and the representation of the ancient travel will push forward the trade and economic exchange between China and Sweden. Its visit is also an important part of the state visit of King Carl ⅩⅥ Gustaf to China.

Q: The day before yesterday, India tested a nuclear-capable missile. What impact will this have on the peace and geopolitics in this region?

A: We have taken note of the report. We hold that the countries in this region should unshirkable responsibility for the peace and stability in the region. We hope all countries in this region will make positive effort to this end.

Q: What comment does China have on the result of the election in Mexico?

A: China noticed that the Federal Election Committee of Mexico announced the result of presidential election on July 6. China has always attached importance to developing China-Mexico friendly relations and cooperation. We are willing to make joint effort with the new government of Mexico to steadily consolidate and deepen the China-Mexico strategic partnership.

Q: Does the second visit of Hill to China indicate a new development on the issue of the DPRK's missile test?

A: China and the US have stayed in contact on the relevant issue. China is gravely concerned over the situation related to the DPRK's missile test. We approve of that the Security Council should make an appropriate response and send a clear and strong signal. Meanwhile, China will not accept any overreaction or measure that may aggravate the situation.

Q: China proposed a non-binding chairman's statement. Why does China think this a way to solve the problem more effective than a resolution?

A: We think it is necessary for the Security Council to make appropriate response. But any measure taken by the Security Council should not intensify the problem or cause spiraling escalation of the tension. It should be conducive to the peace and stability of the region, the solidarity of the Security Council and the overall development of the Six-Party Talks. China cherishes the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, the achievement of the Six-Party Talks and the solidarity of the Security Council. We believe that all measures should be conducive to easing the situation instead of escalating the tension, and should be conducive to the peaceful solution of the issue through dialogue instead of intensifying the problem.

Q: A DPRK delegation is visiting China. Please brief on the schedule of the delegation. Has the DPRK implied its willingness to join the informal meeting of the six nations?

A: Vice Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly Yang Hyong Sop just arrived in Beijing this morning. We will release information on his activities at an appropriate time.

China has all along been committed to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the process of the Six-Party Talks. This position is rock firm. Whatever may happen, China will maintain the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula, promote the process of the Six-Party Talks and pursue the goal of the denuclearization of the Six-Party Talks. But one or two visits or the effort of China alone can not solve all the problems. We hope the parties concerned will make joint effort to this end and take positive action to ease the current tension and make unremitting effort to resume the Six-Party Talks at an early date.

Q: The delegation of Vice Premier Hui Liangyu signed an economic and technological cooperation agreement. Can you brief on the content of the agreement? Please brief on the schedule of Spanish Crown Prince Felipe. Where will he visit?

A: Vice Premier Hui Liangyu is still visiting the DPRK, and media has covered his activities.

At the invitation of Vice President Zeng Qinghong, Spanish Crown Prince Felipe will visit China on July 12 to 14 and attend the inauguration ceremony of the Beijing branch of Cervantes College. Apart from Beijing, he will visit Shanghai.

Q: What message will China convey to Hill during his visit? How should the US assist China in solving the problem?

A: Recently China made extensive consultation with the Security Council members and the countries concerned through different channels and at different levels. President Hu Jintao made telephone conversation with President Bush. State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan made telephone conversation with Secretary of State Rice and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing made several telephone conversations with her. During Mr. Hill's visit to China, State Councilor met with him.

China and the US shared common interest on maintaining the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. It is a consensus between Chinese and the US leaders to realize the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula through the Six-Party Talks and peaceful means. Whatever may happen, China will unswervingly promote the Six-Party Talks, unswervingly seek peaceful solution of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and commit ourselves to maintaining the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. We hope the parties concerned will bear in mind the peace and stability and properly handle the issue.

Q: In response to DPRK's testing launch of their missiles, some Japanese politicians proposed to take preemptive attack against the DPRK. What comment does China have on it?

A: It conforms to the common interests of all countries to safeguard peace and stability of Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. We hope relevant countries can maintain calm and restraint, do more conducive to safeguarding regional peace and stability.

Q: The Six-Party Talks is a long-standing issue. Now the DPRK has test launched missiles. Under the circumstances when relevant parties haven't reached some kind of understanding over the DPRK's testing launch of missiles, does China think it possible to resume the Six-Party Talks?

A: The Six-Party Talks is a practical and effective mechanism for resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through dialogues. Last year, the joint statement adopted on the Six-Party Talks comes out of the joint efforts of all parties. The progress doesn't come easily, so it deserves all parties to cherish. To implement the Joint Statement and adhere to pushing forward the Six-Party Talks conform to common interests and common responsibility of all parties. China will make relentless efforts for it.

Q: I want to follow up a question, when does China think a decision should be made, either through the means of a presidential statement or a resolution? Should it be voted before the G8 Summit? As you just mentioned, China opposes to the resolution draft on sanctions proposed by Japan, but the draft is not unilaterally put forward by Japan but jointly proposed by Japan, the US, Britain and France. What response do you have on it?

A: As I just said, member countries of Security Council are conducting intensive consultations over the issue and have reached some consensus as well with still quite a lot differences. All sides are continuing discussions over it.

The tension of Korean Peninsula has lasted for over 50 years. We count on one or two visits to resolve the issue at once, diplomatic efforts require time, patience and concerted constructive efforts of all sides.

We hold a different attitude towards the draft proposed by Japan and other countries. We oppose to any draft escalating the tensions. In fact, only a minority of Six-Party Talks participants support the draft resolution, which indicates a definite choice of countries which really have critical interests in the Peninsula. All China has done is to safeguard peace and stability of Peninsula and the region, safeguard the solidarity of Security Council and safeguard the process of Six-Party Talks.

Q: As you mentioned, one or two visits can't resolve all the issues. Do you think it needs more time to resolve the missile issue of DPRK?

A: We think at the more difficult moment it is, under the more complicated situations it is, more does it require all parties to maintain calm and restraint, display flexibility and patience. We hope relevant parties to proceed from the overall interests of regional peace and stability, properly handle relevant issues, make joint efforts to ease the tensions and put forward the process of Six-Party Talks.

Q: Mr.Yang Hyong Sop, vice president of the Presidium of the DPRK Supreme People's Assembly, is visiting China, does any official in his delegation especially discuss the missile issue with China?

A: It is at invitation of Chinese Government that Mr. Yang Hyong Sop leads a delegation of friendship to visit China and attend the memorial activities to mark the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between China and the DPRK. Relevant Chinese leaders will meet with the delegation.

Q: During talks between Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, does the DPRK make clear their position on the informal meeting of the Six-Party Talks?

A: China still think the Six-Party Talks is a practical and effective mechanism to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. China always maintains close communications and coordination with relevant parties to put forward an early resumption of Six-Party Talks. We are always making active mediation and arduous efforts, yet there are still no results.

Q: Will China put more pressure on the DPRK? Are there any changes in the border trade between China and DPRK?

A: We always think all measures should be conducive to ease situations rather than escalate tensions; should be conducive to resolve the issue through dialogues rather than aggravate the conflicts.

As for your second question, I haven't heard any changes.

Q: Since the Six-Party Talks issued the joint statement, DPRK has refused to return to the Talks and test fired missiles. It is the DPRK that escalate the regional tensions. Why does China still call on other parties to maintain restraint?

A: The joint statement issued by the Six-Party Talks last year is the result of concerted efforts of all parties and not easy to come by. All parties should cherish and implement the joint statement. Adherence to the process of Six-Party Talks conforms to common interests of all parties and is also common responsibility of all parties. We are ready to work with all parties to make concerted efforts for breaking the impasse and resume the Six-Party Talks at an early.

Q: Will the DPRK leader Kim Jong-II meet with the Chinese delegation? Does US Secretary of State Rice have any plan to visit China?

A: Vice Premier Hui Liangyu just arrived in DPRK yesterday. Relevant activities are still undergoing. We will release news in due time.

As for your second question, I haven't got any information in this regard now.

Q: Which countries in UN Security Council support China? Which participants of Six-Party Talks support China?

A: Member countries of Security Council are still making consultations. All parties are exchanging views over relevant issues, putting forward their own propositions and have reached some consensus. But there are still many differences. All parties are ready to continue consultations over it. Relevant suggestions proposed by China are echoed by some countries.

Thanks for your presence today. See you next time!