JUNE 8 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: IRANIAN NUCLEAR ISSUE,

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 BEIJING 00011614 002 OF 003 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