JUNE 20 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DPRK MISSILE LAUNCH,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 013022 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM CH KN SUBJECT: JUNE 20 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DPRK MISSILE LAUNCH, AFRICAN ENERGY DEALS, RUSSIAN G-8, DEPSEC ZOELLICK'S RESIGNATION, ASSAULTED THREE GORGES DAM ACTIVIST, AND THE NEXT UN SECRETARY GENERAL Summary -------------- ¶1. Key points made at the June 20 MFA press briefing are as follows: -- China has "taken note" of reports of an impending DPRK missile launch. -- China will send an official delegation to the African Union Summit in July. China and Angola will sign a series of treaties involving law enforcement and economics during Premier Wen Jiabao's current visit. China hopes to consolidate its relations with Africa and expand their development. -- President Hu will attend the dialogue with developing countries during July's G-8 Summit in Russia in order to discuss energy security and African development. China stands ready to enhance G-8 dialogue and cooperation. -- China appreciates former Deputy Secretary of State Zoellick's role in enhancing Sino-U.S. relations. -- A task force is investigating the incident which left Three Gorges Dam activist Fu Xiancai severely injured. -- China is ready for dialogue with the Vatican. -- China supports an Asian Secretary General to succeed Kofi Annan. -- President Karzai and President Hu signed anti-terrorist and anti-drug treaties during their June 19th meeting. -- Australian PM Howard will visit China from June 27-29. Possible DPRK Missile Launch -------------- ¶2. Jiang Yu was evasive whn pressed during the regular June 20 MFA press briefing about China's reaction and expected response to reports of an impending missile launch by the DPRK. Jiang stated only that China had "taken note" of such reports. The Six-Party Talks are encountering difficulties and China hopes for an early resumption of the talks, she said. China is working to press ahead with the talks and maintains close communications with relevant parties, she asserted. Sino-African Relations and Energy Development -------------- ¶3. China will send an official delegation to the African Union Summit (AUS) in July, Jiang answered when asked if China planned to attend. China has historically supported the AUS and considers the AUS the most representative regional organization in Africa. The AUS plays a major role in safeguarding African peace and stability, Jiang stated. ¶4. Asked by the Bloomberg reporter whether Premier Wen Jiabao's current African trip was targeted primarily towards energy development, Jiang stated that the Premier's visit focused on all of Africa. China hopes to consolidate its relations and expand development towards Africa under a "new type of strategic partnership", she said. Queried specifically about energy deals with Angola and the Congo, Jiang stated that China and Angola will sign a series of treaties involving law enforcement and economics. China's energy policy is designed to ensure self reliance, Jiang stated. China's oil consumption is one eighth that of the United States and China's level of oil reliance is much lower than that of developed countries, Jiang stressed. China's crude oil imports are limited and China's overall oil consumption is only 8 percent of the world total. China seeks to develop an energy policy based on mutually beneficial exchanges and relations, Jiang added. Sino-Saudi Arabian Oil Deals -------------- ¶5. Sino-Saudi Arabian cooperation on energy development has BEIJING 00013022 002 OF 003 its own unique advantages, Jiang said, when asked if China was close to signing an oil agreement with Saudi Arabia. China will continue to cooperate with Saudi Arabia in order to improve China's mechanism to enhance its strategic oil reserves, Jiang said. China and the Upcoming G-8 Summit -------------- ¶6. President Hu will attend the G-8's dialogue with developing countries during July's G-8 Summit in Russia, Jiang said when asked if China wanted to join the G-8. The main theme of the dialogue meeting will be energy security and African development, she stated. China's relations with the G-8 will also be discussed. The G-8 plays an important role in international political and economic affairs, Jiang said, and although China is still a developing nation, China believes developed nations should partner with developing countries to meet global challenges. China stands ready to enhance G-8 dialogue and cooperation, Jiang stated. Deputy Secretary Zoellick -------------- ¶7. China appreciates former Deputy Secretary of State Zoellick's role in furthering Sino-U.S. relations, Jiang said when asked to comment on Zoellick's resignation. Zoellick enhanced mutual trust during two rounds of Strategic Dialogue and China hopes that Zoellick's successor will continue this trend. Valiant Shield -------------- ¶8. China actively participates in military-to-military exchanges in order to enhance mutual trust and cooperation, Jiang stated, when asked what Sino-U.S. cooperation during upcoming Valiant Shield exercises meant for military relations between China and the United States. Three Gorges Dam Activist Assaulted -------------- ¶9. German reporters demanded to know what China's response was to the serious injuries sustained at the hands of Public Security Bureau officials by Three Gorges Dam activist Fu Xiancai and whether his injuries were sustained as a result of being interviewed by a German news program. German reporters asked for China's response to intervention in the case by the German Embassy who had sent both a political officer and a doctor to oversee and assist with Fu's care. Jiang responded by asserting that Fu's medical treatment should not be interfered with and that a task force was investigating the matter in accordance with law. Sino-Vatican Relations -------------- ¶10. China is ready for dialogue with the Vatican, said Jiang when asked if Beijing and the Vatican were currently engaged in dialogue to ease strained relations. The Next UN Secretary General -------------- ¶11. China supports an Asian Secretary General to succeed current UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Jiang stated, when asked who China would like to see as Annan's successor. The selection will require full deliberation by all parties, but Asian nations should be represented, Jiang stated. ¶12. On June 19 Afghan President Karzai met with President Hu Jintao, Jiang said. They signed treaties designed to strengthen anti-terrorism and anti-drug cooperation, Jiang stated, when asked if anti-terrorism was the primary focus of the Sino-Afghan meeting. China respects and supports Afghanistan's efforts to maintain national stability and push forward its reconstruction, she said. Visits -------------- BEIJING 00013022 003 OF 003 ¶13. PM Howard of Australia will visit China from June 27-29 and meet with Premier Wen Jiabao. PM Howard will attend the opening ceremony of the "Liquefied Natural Gas Program" in Guangdong. RANDT