Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING10895
2006-06-01 10:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

JUNE 1 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: IRAN NUCLEAR ISSUE,

Tags:  PREL PARM ECON CH JP KN 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BEIJING 010895 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT PASS TO OPS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PARM ECON CH JP KN
SUBJECT: JUNE 1 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: IRAN NUCLEAR ISSUE,
HAMAS FM VISIT, U.S.-CHINA ECONOMIC COOPERATION, DPRK FM'S
VISIT, CHINA-JAPAN DIALOGUE, DALAI LAMA, INTERNET, JUNE
4TH, LAI CHANGXING

Summary
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BEIJING 010895

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT PASS TO OPS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PARM ECON CH JP KN
SUBJECT: JUNE 1 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: IRAN NUCLEAR ISSUE,
HAMAS FM VISIT, U.S.-CHINA ECONOMIC COOPERATION, DPRK FM'S
VISIT, CHINA-JAPAN DIALOGUE, DALAI LAMA, INTERNET, JUNE
4TH, LAI CHANGXING

Summary
--------------


1. Key points made at the June 1 MFA press briefing
are as follows:

-- China welcomes U.S. gestures and willingness to
resolve the Iran nuclear issue through dialogue, while
not supporting the "arbitrary" use of sanctions in
handling international affairs.

-- Addressing the China-Arab Cooperation Forum,
Palestinian FM Al-Zahhar stated that the Palestinians
will earnestly study the Arab Peace Initiative, and
China welcomes his remarks.

-- Beijing is prepared to promote economic cooperation
with Washington.

-- During his visit to Beijing, FM Paek raised
Pyongyang's concerns regarding the Six-Party Talks.

-- The resumption of the China-Japan Security Dialogue
will help improve bilateral ties and address both
countries' security concerns.

-- China opposes any country's granting the Dalai Lama
a platform to engage in separatist activities.

-- The channel for Chinese people to obtain
information from the Internet is "unimpeded."

-- Asked to comment on the upcoming anniversary of the
June Fourth Tiananmen Square crackdown, the MFA
spokesperson remarked that a "conclusion" has been
reached on the "political incidents."

-- China and Canada remain in contact on the matter of
fugitive Lai Changxing's repatriation.

-- Kyrgyz President Bakiyev will visit China June 9-

10. End Summary.

China Welcomes U.S. Gestures on Iran
--------------


2. During the regular June 1 MFA press briefing,
foreign correspondents asked for China's comment on
Iran's reaction to the U.S. proposal regarding direct
dialogue with Iran, as well as Secretary Rice and
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing's May 31 conversation,
reported briefly by Xinhua. Remarking that Tehran's
reaction is its "own decision," MFA Spokesperson Liu
Jianchao expressed support for any efforts to achieve
a political resolution to the Iran nuclear issue.
China welcomes U.S. gestures and willingness to
resolve the issue through dialogue. Direct dialogue

and building mutual confidence will help create
conditions for a proper resolution.


3. During Secretary Rice's conversation with FM Li,
the Secretary expounded on the U.S. position on Iran
and FM Li reiterated the need to safeguard the
authority of the international nonproliferation
regime, according to Liu. China is prepared to
maintain close contact with the United States and
other nations, hoping that through joint efforts the
parties will reach a "package solution" that is
acceptable to all countries concerned. Asked about
the Iranian FM's reported assertions that Iran will
not cease its enrichment activities, Liu remarked that
Washington is in a better position to respond to these
comments.


4. Questioned about China's stated opposition to
sanctions and whether it is linked to China-Iran oil
deals, Liu noted that Beijing does not support the

BEIJING 00010895 002 OF 004


"arbitrary" use of sanctions in handling international
affairs. A political resolution serves the interests
of all parties, which, including the United States,
have all expressed support for a diplomatic solution.
Liu stressed that maintaining the international
nonproliferation regime serves the interests of the
whole world. While Beijing and Tehran are engaged in
energy cooperation, China is not pursuing its
exclusive interests with regard to a resolution to the
nuclear issue. China advocates a diplomatic
resolution to many issues, such as the DPRK nuclear
issue, and upholds a consistent policy of not
resorting to sanctions in handling international
affairs, Liu highlighted. Perceiving China's stance
as an attempt to protect its own interests is not
helpful, he remarked.

China-Arab Cooperation Forum, Palestinian FM Visit
-------------- --------------


5. Responding to several reporters' questions
regarding Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Al-
Zahhar's participation in the May 31-June 1 Second
Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab Cooperation
Forum in Beijing, Liu noted that FM Al-Zahhar
addressed the Forum as the head of the Palestinian
delegation. Liu confirmed that FM Li will meet Al-
Zahhar on the afternoon of June 1.


6. Responding to the Xinhua correspondent's question,
Liu stated that Chinese and Arab delegates agreed that
relevant UN Resolutions and the principle of Land-for-
Peace should form the basis of a "just and reasonable"
resolution to the Middle East conflict. FM Al-Zahhar
stated that the Palestinians will earnestly study the
Arab Peace Initiative. China welcomes FM Al-Zahhar's
remarks and views them as a positive signal. Beijing
supports any plan, including the Arab Peace
Initiative, which supports a political resolution.
China hopes the international community will continue
to make concerted efforts to encourage the
Palestinians to proceed from the fundamental interest
of Middle East peace and adopt a more active approach
to renouncing violence, accepting existing Israeli-
Palestinian agreements and resuming talks with Israel.
The Palestinian Authority is the "legally elected
government" of the Palestinian people, and this choice
should be respected, Liu remarked. China supports the
Palestinian's right to an independent state. Beijing
has never designated Hamas a terrorist organization.
Chinese economic aid to the Palestinians was not
raised at the Forum, but taking into consideration
Palestinians' humanitarian needs, China will continue
to provide assistance within its own capacity.


7. Asked about the content of the Forum, Liu noted
that President Hu Jintao addressed the participants
and that State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan discussed the
"new partnership." Participants also signed a Joint
Communique and designed a future action plan. In
addition to political, economic and trade discussions,
they agreed to cooperate in investment and
environmental protection as well as expand people-to-
people exchanges. Energy cooperation is an important
component of China-Arab relations, Liu acknowledged.

China-U.S. and China-EU Economic Ties
--------------


8. Asked by the Dow Jones correspondent whether the
appointment of a new Treasury Secretary will affect
U.S.-China economic relations, Liu stated that Beijing
is prepared to promote economic cooperation with
Washington. China will continue to adhere to its
"consistent principle" in handling the RMB exchange
rate issue. Liu noted that EU Trade Commissioner
Mandelson will visit China June 5-9. Mandelson will

BEIJING 00010895 003 OF 004


meet with Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai and discuss
IPR protection and the Doha Development Agenda.

DPRK FM's Visit
--------------


9. DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun met with
Premier Wen Jiabao and FM Li during the first part of
his May 30-June 6 visit to China. FM Paek discussed
Pyongyang's concerns regarding the Six-Party Talks,
Liu noted, highlighting that the goal is to achieve a
nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. China hopes the
relevant parties will take a flexible attitude and
make efforts to resume the Talks. FM Paek will travel
to Guangzhou on the afternoon of June 1, Liu noted.
Asked about a Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) report
that North Korea has extended an invitation to A/S
Hill, Liu said he had not seen such reports but stated
that contact and candid exchanges between Washington
and Pyongyang is conducive to a resolution of the DPRK
nuclear issue.

Sino-Japanese Talks
--------------


10. The agreement reached by FM Li and Japanese FM
Aso on the sidelines of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue
(ACD) to resume the China-Japan Security Dialogue will
help improve bilateral ties and address both
countries' security concerns, Liu commented. China
hopes the Dialogue will resume at an early date.
Asked about a possible reinstatement of military-to-
military exchanges, Liu remarked that Beijing is in
favor of any actions that help improve Sino-Japanese
relations. He predicted that the next round of East
China Sea talks will occur in the near future and
expressed the hope that the talks will help narrow
differences.

Dalai Lama's Trip to Belgium
--------------


11. Asked to comment on the Dalai Lama's trip to
Belgium, Liu reiterated Beijing's position that the
Dalai Lama is a "political exile" engaged in
activities to "split the motherland." China opposes
any country's granting him a platform to engage in
separatist activities and has made representations to
the relevant country.

China's Internet "Unimpeded"
--------------


12. Asked to respond to an International Press
Institute report on China's media censorship, Liu
highlighted that China has over 100 million Internet
users and over 1.3 million online discussion websites.
The channel for Chinese people to obtain information
from the Internet is "unimpeded," he maintained,
arguing that the report's accusations are false.
Similar to the practices of Western countries, China
manages the Internet in accordance with the law in
order to safeguard people's security.

June Fourth Anniversary
--------------


13. Questioned about the upcoming 17th anniversary of
the June Fourth Tiananmen Square crackdown, Liu
remarked that a "conclusion" has been reached on the
"political incidents" that occurred in China at the
end of the last century.

Li Changxing
--------------


14. Questioned about the status of fugitive Li

BEIJING 00010895 004 OF 004


Changxing, Liu noted that China and Canada remain in
contact on the matter of Lai's repatriation.

Kyrgyz President to Visit
--------------


15. Liu announced that Kyrgyz President Bakiyev will
visit China June 9-10.
RANDT