On the afternoon of 29 May, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Yu held a regular press conference and answered questions on the restoration of the lawful rights of China in the OIE, China-Japan talks on the East China Sea, climate change and other issues.

Jiang: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have two announcements to make:

At the invitation of Vice President Zeng Qinghong, Vice President Jusuf Kalla of the Republic of Indonesia will pay an official visit to China from June 6 to 10.

At the invitation of Minister Song Min-soon of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will attend the China, ROK and Japan Foreign Ministers' meeting to be held in Jeju Island, ROK on June 3 and the 6th ACD Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Seoul from June 4 to 5.

The office of IPC in the Prime Tower will be moved to Suite 1407 from May 30 on. The office hours and contact numbers remain unchanged.

We have invited Ambassador Liu Guijin, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on the Darfur issue, to brief the press on his just-concluded trip to Sudan here after the press conference.

With that, I am happy to take your questions.

Q: The former Director of State Food and Drug Administration has been sentenced to death on bribery charges. Is it to restore foreign consumers' confidence in the safety of Chinese food and drug? China urges the West to sign extradition treaty with it. I wonder how many countries so far have signed the extradition treaty with China? And which countries are still negotiating with China on that?

A: The first question is totally one of China's internal affairs. It demonstrates Chinese Government's determination to combat corruption. The Chinese Government takes it as a major obligation to ensure the life security of the people, attaching great importance to the safety of the consumer goods, the hygiene and safety of food and drug in particular. We would like to work with the international community to guarantee the quality and reputation of Chinese consumer goods.

For your second question, senior officials of the Department of Treaties and Law of the Foreign Ministry were interviewed by the press lately. China has cooperated with the international community in various forms to bring back suspects that fled to foreign countries. China has signed extradition treaties with 29 countries, 21 of which have come into effect. China has also reached agreement with 42 countries on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. China participated in the negotiation of the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crimes and the UN Convention Against Corruption, contributing to the international anti-corruption efforts.

Q: It is reported that Li Denghui will deliver a speech in Japan during his visit there, which starts tomorrow. Japan argued that his visit was not a political activity. Do you have any comment on that?

A: China has lodged solemn representations to Japan on that. We strongly urge the Japanese government to take seriously China's grave concern and abide by the principles established in the Sino-Japanese Joint Statement and other two key political documents between China and Japan. Japan should translate its commitment on the Taiwan Issue into real action and refrain from providing political platform for splittist forces for "Taiwan Independence".

Q:It is reported that India had cancelled a delegation's scheduled visit to China owning to Chinese Embassy's refusal to issue visa to an Indian official from the so-called "Arunachal Pradesh". Do you have any comment on that?

A: We stand for a fair and reasonable settlement of the Sino-Indian boundary issue through friendly consultation at an early date. No boundary disputes should be brought to the friendly exchanges between the two countries prior to the settlement. China is happy to see further friendly bilateral exchanges. Indian officials are welcome to visit and get trained in China.

Q: EU officials urged China to take vigorous measures to counter climate change during the ASEM Foreign Minister's Meeting in Germany. Why did China refuse to set a new goal beyond the Kyodo Protocol for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction?

A: The international community should make joint efforts to counter the challenge of climate change facing the whole world. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyodo Protocol constitute the legal foundations for the international community in meeting the climate change. The meeting of the contracting parties is a major channel for international negotiations and cooperation in this regard.

Far below that of the developed countries, GHG emission in China is less than one third of their average in per capita terms. China, however, still attaches great importance to climate change by adopting a series of targeted measures with notable progress, including: striving to raise its energy utilization efficiency through technical innovation, improving the energy structure by developing low carbon and renewable energy, carrying out forestation and enhancing the ecological conservation and protection. China has given priority to energy saving and GHG emission reduction in the current macro regulation and control efforts to realize the emission reduction and energy saving goal set in the Eleventh Five-Year Plan.

The key to counter climate change presently is to implement relevant regulations in the Convention and the Protocol, to launch the international negotiation on developed countries' obligations of the second commitment period of GHG emission reduction on the basis of the "shared and differentiated responsibilities" and strive for substantive progress by 2009.

Developed countries have the obligation and the capability to make greater contributions in meeting climate change. They should lead the way in making GHG emission reduction commitment and help the developing countries build on their capability to counter climate change by actively assisting the developing countries in fund, technology and training.

Deeply affected by climate change, developing countries like China and India have adopted effective measures, the result of which has far outweighed the commitment of all developed countries in the Kyodo Protocol. China is willing to work with the international community in actively exploring effective ways in meeting climate change. We will make unremitting efforts to contribute to the global environmental protection and sustainable development in line with China's realities.

Q: The East China Sea Talks between China and Japan was conducted last week. Is there any new progress out of the Talks?

A: On May 25, China and Japan conducted the eighth round of talks on the East China Sea issues in Beijing. Hu Zhengyue, Director General of Asian Affairs Department of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Kenichiro Sasae, chief of the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau headed their respective delegations to attend the talks. The two sides expressed their respective views on the joint development in East China Sea in both formal and informal ways. The discussions are in-depth and conducive. Both sides agreed to hold the next round of talks in late June. China is willing to work with Japan to promote the course of the talks, based on the important consensus reached by the leaders of the countries, so as to work out a joint development plan acceptable to both at an early date.

Q: OIE has adopted a resolution to restore the lawful rights of China. Do you have any comment?

A: On May 25, OIE adopted a resolution with an overwhelming majority to restore the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China as a sovereign state on the basis of the one China principle, deciding that Taiwan will continue to participate in OIE activities as a non-sovereign member in the name of Chinese Taipei. The vast majority of OIE members voted for the resolution, which manifests that the international community is overwhelmingly supportive of the one China principle.

The Central Government cares for the well-being of our Taiwan compatriots, supporting the animal health undertakings in Taiwan Island. The resolution does not exclude the participation of Taiwan's health authorities in relevant OIE activities. The Central Government stands ready to further enhance the cross-Straits cooperation in animal health.

Q: Is US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill coming to visit China in the near future?

A: As far as I know, Assistant Secretary Hill will arrive in Beijing on May 30. During his visit in Beijing, he will exchange views with China on China-US relations, the Six-Party Talks and other issues of common interest.

Q: What is China's position on the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade by NATO in 1999? Do you accept NATO's explanation that it was an accident? Second question, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks with his French counterpart yesterday. The French side suggested building a humanitarian corridor in Darfur. What is China's position on this?

A: On NATO's bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, the conclusion was already drawn 8 years ago. We have been very clear about our position on this issue. The so-called "accident" theory is untenable and unacceptable.

Yesterday, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks with his counterparts from France, Japan, Pakistan, India, ROK, Thailand, Latvia and the United Kingdom during the Asia-Europe Meeting in Hamburg, Germany. We believe that the Darfur issue should be solved in an integrated way. At present, the international community should work together to promote the political process of the Darfur issue and put into effect the third phase of the Annan Plan. We support all diplomatic efforts propitious to the solving of the Darfur issue.

If there is no more question, let me remind you that Ambassador Liu Guijin will brief you on his recent visit to Sudan in a short while.

Thanks for coming. See you next time.