SEPTEMBER 26 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DPRK NUCLEAR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 020509

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH JP
SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER 26 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DPRK NUCLEAR
ISSUE, JAPANESE ELECTION, CHINA-PORTUGUESE RELATIONS,
SHANGHAI CORRUPTION SCANDAL, MIGRANT WORKERS AND
CHINA-CHILEAN RELATIONS


BEIJING 00020509 001.2 OF 002



1. Key points made at the September 26 MFA press briefing
were:

-- China encourages and supports U.S.-DPRK bilateral
discussions outside of the Six-Party Talks framework.

-- China hopes Tokyo's new leadership can make concrete
efforts to improve Sino-Japan relations and the Strategic
Dialogue between Beijing and Tokyo will "go on as long as it
takes."

-- The September 24-25 Trade Forum between China and
Portuguese Speaking Countries in Macao attended by Commerce
Minister Bo Xilai was a useful platform for developing
economic and trade relations with Portuguese speaking nations.

-- Despite corruption scandals involving high-level
officials, Beijing will adhere to its policy of "reform and
opening up."

-- Any substandard schools in Beijing will be closed and it
is "absurd to tie this issue to human rights claims."

-- Signed in November 2005, the China-Chile Free Trade
Agreement (FTA) will go into full effect on October 1, 2006
and China seeks to increase economic and trade ties with
Latin America.

DPRK Nukes
--------------


2. Discussions are still underway for Vice Foreign Minister
Wu Dawei to travel to Seoul to discuss the North Korean
nuclear situation with the ROK, Spokesperson Qin Gang
confirmed at the September 26 regular MFA Press Briefing.
Questioned by the Reuter's reporter about a recent report
that North Korea plans to step up nuclear weapon fuel
production, Qin answered that Beijing hopes all parties can
work towards achieving peace and stability on the Korean
Peninsula. China encourages and supports U.S.-DPRK bilateral
discussions outside of the Six-Party Talks framework, he
added in response to a follow-up question from the same
reporter.

Japanese Election
--------------


3. Several reporters from Japan asked repeated questions
about China's response to Shinzo Abe's Prime Ministerial
victory in last week's Japanese elections. Would Beijing
send a note of congratulations? What was China's position on
Abe's seeming ambivalence towards Yasukuni Shrine visits?
What were the PRC's post-election expectations? Would Hu
Jintao visit Tokyo? How did Beijing feel about the
re-appointment of Taro Aso as Foreign Minister?


4. China's troubled relations with Japan are well-known, Qin
said. At present "there are obstacles" to bilateral ties for
obvious reasons, he said. China hopes Abe can improve
China-Japan relations by following up promises with concrete
actions. Beijing has proposed a series of policies and
suggestions for improvements in bilateral relations, Qin
said. As to Yasukuni Shrine visits, China's position is
consistent and clear, Qin added.


5. The conditions and timing for any state visit between Hu
Jintao and Shinzo Abe are the same as before, Qin said. As
to Taro Aso remaining Japan's Foreign Minister, China hopes
Tokyo's new leadership can make concrete efforts to improve
Sino-Japan relations. The improvement of such relations is
important for the entire region, Qin added.


6. The Vice Ministerial Strategic Dialogue between China and
Japan currently being held in Tokyo will "go on as long as it
takes" Qin answered, when asked when the talks would end.

Sino-Portuguese Relations
--------------


7. State Councilor Hua Jianmin and Commerce Minister Bo
Xilai attended the Second Ministerial Conference of the Forum
on Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and

BEIJING 00020509 002.2 OF 002


Portuguese Speaking Countries September 24-25 in Macao, Qin
confirmed. Bo proposed increasing economic exchanges with
Portuguese speaking countries and expanding trade and
economic ties with a target goal of 45-50 billion USD in
trade exchanges by 2008. China also announced 8 million RMB
worth of loans in finance, hygiene and other areas to
Portuguese speaking countries. The Forum is a useful
platform to promote trade and economic relations between
China and Portuguese speaking countries, Qin said. Since
1990 when Macao was returned to China, Beijing's relations
with Portuguese speaking countries have made great headway
and China remains optimistic and positive towards future
exchanges and development.

Shanghai Corruption Scandal
--------------


8. Qin deflected several questions on the sacking of
Shanghai Party Leader Chen Liangyu for corruption, stating
that this was not a foreign affairs matter. Asked by
Bloomberg if such widespread high-level corruption made
investors nervous, Qin stated only that Beijing would adhere
to its policy of "reform and opening up."

Migrant Workers and Human Rights
--------------


9. China respects and protects the lawful rights and
interests of its citizens, Qin stated, when asked by the
Christian Science Monitor's reporter to comment on the
growing number of rural petitioners camped out around Beijing
awaiting resolution on unsettled disputes from the
countryside.


10. Qin did not confirm whether a Human Rights Watch report
that in a "pre-Olympics clean-up" of the city, over 50
schools for the children of migrant workers had been closed.
Everyone is entitled to education, he stated, and Beijing is
trying to solve migrant's lack of access to education. In
general, substandard schools will be closed and it is "absurd
to tie this issue to human rights claims," he said.

China-Chilean Free Trade Agreement
--------------


11. Signed in November 2005, the China-Chile Free Trade
Agreement (FTA) will go into full effect on October 1, 2006,
Qin confirmed, in response to a Latin American reporter's
question. The FTA provides momentum for further bilateral
trade, Qin added. Latin America and China are both
developing regions with similar concerns, he said, adding
that China hopes to strengthen dialogue and exchanges to the
region.


RANDT