Q:It is reported that the 11th SAARC Summit Meeting will be held in Nepal on 4 January. What is China’s comment?

A: We have learnt that the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit Meeting will be held from 4 to 6 January next year in Nepal. China has been following the development of the SAARC. We hold that good cooperation among South Asian countries will help improve the overall level of regional development. It is in the fundamental interest of the countries of the region. China welcomes the convocation of the 11th SAARC Summit. It is our hope that the meeting will yield positive results by expanding cooperation and enhancing trust.

   
Q: The Mongolian Prime Minister is coming for a visit. What is your comment on his visit and the current bilateral relations?

A: At the invitation of Premier Zhu Rongji, Prime Minister Nambar Enkhbayar of Mongolia will pay an official visit to China from 7 to 12 January 2002. Both sides attach great importance to the visit. At the moment, the bilateral relations are developing soundly. The two countries are close neighbours. In recent years, the good-neighbourly relations and friendship between the two are developing smoothly with frequent exchanges of high-level visits. In 1998 and 1999, The Mongolian President Natsagiin Bagabandi and Chinese President Jiang Zemin exchanged visit to each other. A framework was established to build long-term, stable relations and friendly cooperation between the two based upon mutual trust and good-neighbourliness. Bilateral economic relations and trade have also developed in a steady manner with deepening cooperation. China has become the number one investor and trade partner of Mongolia. We are fully confident of the prospect of the bilateral ties. We believe that the forthcoming visit will play a positive role in pushing forward the bilateral relations in the new century.


Q: It is reported that Vietnam and China will start their border delimitation work at the end of the month. Could you please give us some details? Could you please confirm that Deputy Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the boundary tablet unveiling ceremony on behalf of the Chinese Government?

A: The unveiling ceremonies of the first new land boundary tablet between China and Vietnam were held this morning respectively in Dongxing, Guangxi Province of China and in Monkay Port of Vietnam. It is another important step in settling the land border question between China and Vietnam. It marks the official implementation of the Land Boundary Treaty between China and Vietnam and the official start of the boundary inspection and boundary tablet erection work along the land border. The on-site boundary inspection is of vital importance to the safeguarding of peace and stability along the bilateral border, the promotion of bilateral personnel exchanges and economic and trade links, and the further development of bilateral relations of good-neighbourliness and friendship. China’s Deputy Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also the head of the Chinese delegation to the border talks, attended the ceremony in Dongxing. Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Le Cong Phung, who is also the head of Vietnam’s delegation to the border talks, attended the ceremony in Monkay.
   

Q: Yesterday, the Russian Duma ratified the Treaty of Good-neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation between Russia and China. What role will it play in the development of Sino-Russian relations?

A: We are pleased and encouraged to see Russia’s Duma ratified the Treaty of Good-neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation between China and Russia by a vast majority yesterday. This has reflected the sincere aspiration of the Russian people to develop Sino-Russian relations of good-neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China already approved the Treaty at the end of last October.

The core of the Treaty is to ensure that the two nations and two peoples are friends from generation to generation and will never be enemies to each other. The Treaty serves as a programme document guiding the development of bilateral ties. It has done away with the old mentality and mode of the Cold War era that countries were either allies with each other or were in conflict with each other. Sino-Russian relations are non-aligned, non-confrontational and not directed at any third country. We have set a fine example for the international community by seeking security through mutual trust and seeking cooperation through mutual benefit. Under the current complicated and changing international situation, the Treaty will surly push ahead the long-term, stable development of the bilateral ties in the new century. It will also contribute to world peace and development.


Q: It is reported that India has deployed missile systems and jet fighters near the line of control and may possibly attack the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. What is your comment on that?

A: The Chinese side is deeply concerned over the tension along the boarder between India and Pakistan. Yesterday we have made remarks on this issue. As the neighbor and friend of both India and Pakistan, we follow closely the development of the situation. It is our hope that the two sides will exercise restraint to avoid further escalation of the tension, properly handle the relevant issues through dialogue and consultations to jointly safeguard peace and stability of this region.


Q: We noticed the detailed report of the Evening News of CCTV on Japanese Foreign Minister’s remarks on the Taiwan issue. What is your comment on that?

A: We have noticed that Japanese Foreign Minister Tanaka expressed her support for China’s peaceful reunification effort. Her remarks once again indicated that China’s stand on the Taiwan issue has obtained the agreement and support of various countries in the world. Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between China and Japan. It is our hope that all forms of interference will be removed so as to bring about a sound development of our bilateral relations.


Q: What is China’s comment on Egyptian President Mubarak’s proposal for an international meeting on terrorism?

A: China and the vast number of Arab countries share identical views on the fight against terrorism. We hold that the vast number of Arab countries are also victims of international terrorism. China attaches great importance to and understands the concern and the position of the Arab countries on this issue. We have noted that back in 1986, President Mubarak already called for an international meeting on terrorism.  China appreciates Egypt’s positive role in the fight against terrorism. We support President Mubarak’s proposal for an international anti-terrorism meeting. We are ready to step up our consultation and exchange of views with Egypt and other Arab and Muslim countries on the fight against terrorism.


Q: Is China, as a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, planning to contribute to an international anti-terrorism conference on a strict and non-bias anti-terrorism standard so that it will conform with the interests of not only a single country, but also a whole world?

A: Our stand on the issue of anti-terrorism is clear-cut. We maintain that terrorism is a major threat and challenge towards the world peace and security. Therefore, the international community should strengthen their cooperation to jointly fight against international terrorism, whatever forms it takes. As a Permanent Member of the UN security Council, we are ready to work with other countries to make our own contribution to push forward the international anti-terrorism cooperation within and outside the framework of the United Nations.


Q: Will the current tension in South Asia affect Premier Zhu’s visit to India and Bangladesh?

A: As for Premier Zhu Rongji’s visit to South Asia, the relevant countries and China are making careful and intense preparations. India is a close neighbor of China, we hope and believe that India will maintain peace, stability and development.


Q: When will Premier Zhu visit India and Bangladesh?

A: As for the specific date of Premier Zhu’s visit to India and Bangladesh, we will make it public in due course.


Q: Foreign Minister Tang said yesterday that China and Israel are having consultations on the compensation for Israel’s cancelling of sales of the Falcon early-warning system. How much does the Chinese side ask for compensation? What impact will Israel’s sales of the Falcon early-warning system to India have on the regional stability?

A: Yesterday Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan held a press briefing in Egypt during his visit, and expounded our stand on the friendly relations and cooperation between China and the Arab countries. I would also like to brief you on our view on the development of the relations between China and Arab countries in the new century. As is stressed by Foreign Minister Tang at the briefing, China attaches great importance to the development of its relations with the vast number of Arab countries in the new century and stands ready to strengthen the bilateral political dialogue and consultations and enhance the mutual trust and understanding. We are ready to carry render support to and coordination with each other on multilateral forums including the United Nations. China is ready to further develop the economic and trade relations with the vast Arab countries, especially in such fields as energy, two-way investments and technology transfer, where the two sides are complementary to each other. China is willing to discuss with the Arab side on the establishment of China-Arab Forum mechanism.

As for your specific question between China and Israel, the two sides are still having consultations. We hope the Israeli side will make its own efforts to the normal development of the bilateral relations. We have also noticed the report that Israel may sell the early-warning system to other countries. It is our belief that peace and stability of the South Asian region serve the interests of all countries in this region. We hope that the relevant countries will make efforts to this end.