Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BEIJING11614
2006-06-08 11:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:  

JUNE 8 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: IRANIAN NUCLEAR ISSUE,

Tags:  PREL PHUM CH JP 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 011614 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH JP
SUBJECT: JUNE 8 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: IRANIAN NUCLEAR ISSUE,
SCO SUMMIT, EIGHTH DEFENSE CONSULTATION TALKS, CHINA SPY
CASE, EU EMBARGO, IPR, DARFUR, SINO-AFRICAN RELATIONS,
INTERNET CENSORSHIP, SINO-JAPANESE RELATIONS.


Summary
-------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 011614

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH JP
SUBJECT: JUNE 8 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: IRANIAN NUCLEAR ISSUE,
SCO SUMMIT, EIGHTH DEFENSE CONSULTATION TALKS, CHINA SPY
CASE, EU EMBARGO, IPR, DARFUR, SINO-AFRICAN RELATIONS,
INTERNET CENSORSHIP, SINO-JAPANESE RELATIONS.


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


1. Key points made at the June 8 MFA press briefing are as
follows:

-- President Hu will meet with Iranian President Mahmud
Ahmadinejad during the June 15 Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) summit in Shanghai to discuss the Iranian
nuclear issue.

-- All SCO member heads will attend the SCO Summit and meet
with President Hu.

-- China welcomes the Eighth Defense Consultative Talks
(DCTs) as evidence of increased military-to-military
exchanges and cooperation with the United States.

-- Claims that China is attempting to steal U.S. military
secrets are unfounded and based on ulterior motives.

SIPDIS

-- Despite recent criticism by EU Trade Commissioner Peter
Mandelson, China has a responsible attitude towards military
technology transfer and the EU Arms Embargo should be lifted.

-- China realizes it has continuing problems with IPR
violations but is improving its enforcement.

-- China welcomes the EU and UN Security Council agreement
that UN Peacekeeping forces take over the peacekeeping
mission in Darfur.

PM Wen Jiabao will make a 7 nation African tour to Egypt,
Ghana, Uganda, the Congo, Angola, Tanzania, and South Africa
from June 17-21. China supports Angola's post-war
reconstruction and will continue to provide Angola with
further developmental assistance.

-- President Koizumi must stop visiting the Yasukuni Shrine
before Sino-Japanese relations can improve.

-- Afghan President Hamid Karzai will visit China from June
18-21.

Iranian President to Attend SCO
--------------


2. During the regular June 8 MFA press briefing spokesman
Liu Jianchao confirmed that Iranian President Ahmadinejad
will attend the June 15 Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO) Summit in Shanghai. In preparation for the meeting,
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International
Affairs Abbas Araghchi met with Chinese Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing today to discuss developments in Iran's nuclear
program. Liu stated that during the SCO, President Hu Jintao
and President Ahmadinejad will discuss the nuclear issue.



3. China, the EU, Russia and the United States reached a
consensus on a proposal to resolve the Iranian nuclear
situation, Liu stated. The proposal is a solid foundation
for a diplomatic solution, Liu stated. Liu skirted the
question of whether or not the aforementioned proposal
offered Iran a direct guarantee of security in exchange for a
suspension of its nuclear program, stating only that early
media reports indicated that the proposal has been received
favorably in Tehran. China believes resolution of Iran's
nuclear program is possible through diplomatic dialogue, Liu
said.

The SCO
--------------

4. Liu confirmed that the presidents of all the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states will attend the
organization's summit on June 15 in Shanghai. Additionally,
Pakistani President Musharref, Mongolian President Nambaryn
Enkhbayar, and Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad will
attend in the status of observers. India, another SCO
observer, will send its Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Murli Deora to the summit, Liu said. Liu confirmed that
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Executive Secretary of the
Commonwealth of Independent States Vladimir Rushailo and

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ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Villacorta will also attend
the summit as guests. President Hu will hold bilaterals with
all heads of state during the SCO, Liu said.


5. Asked by the Pakistani reporter for details on any
proposed agenda for upcoming SCO Sino-Pakistani meetings, Liu
stated that President Hu will discuss a wide range of issues
with SCO participants. China maintains good relations with
SCO member and observer states and hopes to use the SCO
framework to further regional cooperation and development.

Defense Consultation Talks
--------------


6. The current Eighth Round of Defense Consultative Talks
with the United States, led by Assistant U.S. Secretary of
Defense Peter Rodman and Chinese delegation head Zhang
Qinsheng, enhances military-to-military trust and
cooperation, Liu stated, when asked to explain the purpose of
the talks. Military exchanges are an important part of
U.S.-China relations, he added. China noted President Bush's
recent positive comments on military cooperation and hopes
that these exchanges will continue in the future. In
response to another question, Liu confirmed that China would
send observers to the U.S. military exercise "Valiant Shield"
in mid-June.

U.S.-China Spy Case
--------------


7. Queried by the AP reporter about a recent indictment
handed down in a California Court against a mother and son
accused of conspiring to steal U.S. Naval secrets for China,
Liu stated that these "so-called" accusations were groundless
and based on "ulterior motives."

EU Arms Embargo
--------------


8. China's position on the export of weapons technology is
clear-cut and responsible, Liu answered when asked by the
Bloomberg reporter to comment on EU Trade Commissioner Peter
Mandelson's recent comments that the EU would not lift the
arms embargo until Beijing could guarantee it wouldn't
transfer military technology. The embargo should have been
removed "long ago," and is both an obstacle to development
and international relationships, Liu stated.

IPR
---


9. China has made progress in recent years on IPR
enforcement, Liu stated, when questioned about the
possibility that the U.S. government would bring the issue up
in the WTO. China takes strong measures against IPR
violations but realizes it has continual problems that
require enhanced enforcement, Liu stated. IPR protection
serves China's interests as well as those of the concerned
countries, he said.


Darfur Crisis
--------------


10. China is closely following and is extremely concerned
about the situation in Darfur, Liu answered when asked how
China views the Darfur instability, especially in light of
Chinese energy interests in the region. China welcomes the
EU and UN Security Council agreement that UN Peacekeeping
forces take over the peacekeeping mission in Darfur, Liu
said. China hopes for peace and stability to return to the
region as soon as possible, he added.

Sino-Angolan Relations
--------------


11. PM Wen Jiabao's upcoming trip to 7 African countries
follows President Hu's successful April trip to the region,
Liu stated. Lu deflected questions about whether China was
overextending credit to Angola by stating that China sought
to develop and enhance bilateral relations, mutual interests,

BEIJING 00011614 003 OF 003


and further the development of the entire African region. PM
Wen Jiabao will visit Angola from June 20-21 and meet with
Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, Liu stated. The
two will discuss bilateral and regional issues and Wen Jiabao
plans to visit a provincial general hospital. Sino-African
trade posted record highs last year, Liu commented. China
supports Angola's post-war reconstruction and will continue
provide Angola with further developmental assistance, he
added.

Internet Censorship
--------------


12. Cooperation on economics and trade should occur within a
legal framework, Liu stated when asked about recent
criticisms of China's Internet censorship. Companies
operating within China should abide by Chinese laws, he added.

Yasukuni Shrine Visits
--------------


13. There is no information that President Hu and President
Koizumi will hold bilateral talks on the margins of the July
G-8 Summit in Russia, Liu stated. When asked if the chances
of such a meeting were linked to Koizumi's Yasukuni Shrine
visits, Liu stated that the Chinese position on visits to
Yasukuni is unchanged.

Upcoming Visits:
--------------


14. Afghan President Hamid Karzai will visit China from June
18-21.
RANDT