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