On the afternoon of November 14, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Jiang Yu held a regular press conference.

Jiang:Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I shall begin with several announcements.

At the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council, Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev of the Republic of Bulgaria will pay an official visit to China from November 19 to 23.

At the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council, Prime Minister Miegombyn Enkhbold of Mongolia will pay an official visit to China from November 22 to 27.

At the invitation of Vice President Zeng Qinghong, Vice President Francisco Santos Calderon of the Republic of Colombia will pay an official visit to China from November 19 to 26.

To facilitate the trip to Hanoi for the APEC Meeting by correspondents accredited in Beijing, I would like to share with you the fixed arrangement on bilateral meetings between Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and his counterparts. On November 16, Li Zhaoxing will meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, the Foreign Minister of New Zealand Winston Peters, and Canadian Foreign Minister Peter Mackay. On November 17, Foreign Minister Li will meet with US Secretary of State Rice, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov, Foreign Minister-to-be of the ROK Song Min-soon,and Foreign Minister of Peru Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde.

Now the floor is open for questions.

Q: Could you share with us more information about the Free Trade Area (FTA) negotiation between China and Pakistan which has just concluded?

A: The fifth round of negotiation on China-Pakistan Free Trade Area was held in Beijing from November 7 to 10. Both sides reached consensus on market access and the text of free trade agreement, making a substantive progress and a basic completion of the FTA negotiation.

Q: China feels reluctant to hold the meetings of 5 countries or 10 countries to talk about the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue on the sidelines of the APEC Meeting in Hanoi. Have China and Vietnam reached an agreement to discuss the issue with all the participant countries? Japan, the US and the ROK will hold a meeting to talk about the issue during the APEC Meeting. Does China worry that it will irritate the DPRK?

A: Up to now, I have not heard about any arrangement on multilateral Ministerial Conference to talk about the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue during the APEC Meeting. The APEC Meeting itself is an economic forum. The Korean Peninsula nuclear issue as well as political and security topics are not included on the agenda of the APEC Meeting.

We believe the APEC members have common interests and similar position in realizing the denuclearization of the Peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability on the Peninsula as well as resolving the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue through dialogue and consultation. We are ready to make joint efforts with other parties to promote the relaxation of the situation on the Peninsula and the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

Q: Please tell us more about the visit of the Colombian Vice President to China. Last weekend, there was a demonstration in Ecuador against a company funded by China. Are you worried about that? Will the Chinese government request the Ecuadorian government to take necessary measures in this regard?

A: On your first question, during Vice President Santos's visit to China, Chinese leaders will have an exchange of ideas with him on bilateral relations and the international and regional issues of common interest. Besides Beijing, he will also visit Xi'an and Shanghai.

Since the establishment of bilateral relations between China and Colombia in 1980, the bilateral friendly and cooperative relations have enjoyed smooth development. The bilateral exchanges and cooperation in politics, economy, trade, culture, and education are ever expanding. We have maintained sound cooperation in international affairs. We believe the visit by Vice President Santos this time will further promote the development of our bilateral relations.

Regarding your second question, on November 10, demonstrators assaulted an oil facility in east Ecuadorian city Cuyabeno, which belongs to Andes Petroleum Company, a joint venture invested by PetroChina and Sinopec. They took hostage over 30 local employees and demanded sharp salary raise, replacement of security staff and localization of a supporting service company. Once upon being informed, Chinese embassy in Ecuador immediately made representations to the competent authority and required them to protect life and property of Chinese citizens. On the evening of 10th, the demonstrators released the hostages after the Ecuadorian government intervened and left the seized facility.

Q: Can you brief us on President Hu Jintao's visit to Laos and what aids and cooperation projects are to be signed? Yesterday, Shoichi Nakagawa, Chairman of Policy Research Council of Japanese Liberal Democratic Party criticized China's action in its East China Sea oil field. What's your reaction?

A: President Hu will pay a state visit to Laos as General Secretary of Chinese Communist Party and Chinese President. This is the first visit to Laos paid by Chinese top leader since the new collective leadership of Laos was established. It is also another visit paid by Chinese top leader following the previous one six years ago. We believe that this visit has important significance for the all-round and in-depth development of the relations between the two parties and two countries. During the visit, the two sides will discuss on how to strengthen political mutual trust, expand mutually-beneficial cooperation and map out the future development of China-Laos relations. As for the itinerary of this visit, President Hu will meet with General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and Lao President Choummali, the President of National Assembly, Prime minister, and the former President and General Secretary of LPRP. The two countries will issue a joint statement and sign cooperation agreements in trade and economy, public security, health and other fields. President Hu will visit Laos from 19th to 20th.

We have reiterated the position of the Chinese Government on the oil and gas field exploration in the East China Sea on many occasions. China's development is conducted in the waters near Chinese coast, where we have no dispute with Japan. This is a normal activity of exercising sovereignty. The concern and apprehension of Japan is unnecessary.

Q: When will China submit to the UN its report on implementing Resolution 1718 of the UN Security Council? Has China worked out a embargo list on luxury goods?

A: As a UN member state and permanent member of the Security Council, China has always implemented the Security Council resolutions with a responsible attitude and makes no exception of Resolution 1718. China will submit its report on implementing Resolution 1718 to the Security Council in the near future.

Q: It is reported that the DPRK issued a statement recently, opposing the US plan to deploy strategic nuclear weapon in the ROK. What's China's comment?

A: China has consistently stood for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and maintained that the parties concerned should solve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula peacefully through dialogue and consultation, so as to jointly preserve the peace and stability of the Peninsula and Northeast Asia. This position has been consistent and clear.

Q: Could you update us about President Hu Jintao's visit to India and Pakistan? Will the free trade area between China and India be discussed? Is China supportive of a separate statement on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula?

A: The Free Trade Area you mentioned is actually China-India regional trade arrangment. During Premier Wen's visit to India in April, 2005, both sides reached consensus on the feasibility study of the establishment of China-India regional trade arrangment.

The APEC members share common interest and similar views in resoving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. We are willing to make joint efforts with the parties concerned to relax the situation and promote early resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

Q: During President Hu Jintao's visit to India, will there be any progress in the negotiation on the boundary question between China and India?

A: It is the shared strategic goal of our two sides to seek an early settlement of the boundary question. Both sides are devoted to a settlement that is fair, reasonable and acceptable to both based on peaceful and friendly consultation. Before the settlement of the boundary question, both China and India are making efforts to maintain peace and tranquility of the border region. As for the boundary question negotiation between China and India, Special Representatives were appointed by Prime Ministers of the two counties to seek the settlement of the question. After that, the Special Representatives of the two sides met for five timws. Last April, the governments of our two countries signed the Agreement on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the China-India Boundary Question. After that, the Special Representatives of two sides held another talks for three times and began to discuss the framework for the settlement of the border question. According to the consensus between China and India, the 9th meeting between the Special Representatives will be held in India and the time will be decided through further discussion of the both sides.

If there are no further questions, that's all for today's press conference. Thanks for your presence.