NOVEMBER 7 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SIX-PARTY TALKS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 023628

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ENRG KN CH
SUBJECT: NOVEMBER 7 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SIX-PARTY TALKS,
BURNS AND JOSEPH VISITS, EGYPT AND AFRICA, SINO-RUSSIAN
ENERGY ISSUES, SADDAM VERDICT, KYRGYZ DEMONSTRATIONS AND
HU'S UPCOMING TRAVEL



1. Key points made at the regular November 7 MFA Press
Briefing were:

-- China calls for speedy resumption of Six-Party Talks. The
spokesman deflected a question about excluding Japan from the
Talks.

-- United States' Undersecretaries Nick Burns and Robert
Joseph will visit China this week.

-- Cooperation on peaceful development of nuclear energy was
a topic of Egyptian President Mubarak's state visit.

-- Energy is a major part of the Sino-Russian relationship.

-- Saddam Hussein's fate properly rests with the Iraqi people.

-- China noted opposition rallies in Kyrgyzstan.

-- President Hu Jintao will attend APEC in Vietnam and
continue onward to Laos, India and Pakistan.

Six-Party Talks
--------------


2. China hopes to resume Six-Party Talks as soon as possible,
MFA Spokesperson Jiang Yu said at the regular scheduled
November 7 press briefing. Following China's positive
efforts, the delegations of the United States, China and the
DPRK met recently in Beijing and agreed to resume the
Six-Party Talks as soon as possible.


3. Responding to questions from reporters about the
possibility of informal five-party talks, Jiang said the
quick resumption of the Talks can relax the situation made
more complicated by the DPRK nuclear test in October.
Beijing hopes that the actions of all parties can create a
positive atmosphere for the Six-Party Talks, when asked
whether Japan should withdraw from the Talks.

U/S Burns and U/S Joseph Visit
--------------


4. United States' Undersecretary Nick Burns and Vice Foreign
Minister Yang Jiechi will co-chair the Third U.S.-China
Strategic Dialogue, Jiang announced. U/S Burns will also
meet respectively with FM Li Zhaoxing and Senior Vice Foreign
Minister Dai Bingguo on November 8. A consensus in the
strategic dialogue is conducive to the bilateral relationship
and to peace and stability of the international community.
More information on U/S Robert Joseph's visit will be
forthcoming after the November 8 meetings, Jiang announced.

Egypt and China-African Relations
--------------


5. President Mubarak is following up his participation in the
China-African Cooperation Summit with a state visit to
Beijing, Jiang announced. China and Egypt are both signatory
parties to an agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy
and China will honor this relationship in cooperating with
Egypt to develop nuclear energy in the civilian sector, Jiang
added.


6. The China-Africa strategic partnership is no different
from China's other partnerships, Jiang said. Beijing's
partnerships adhere to the principles of peace, equality and
the mutual development of the parties. China and the African
nations are developing countries and their mutual development
is beneficial to the peace and stability of the international
community.

Russia-China Pipeline
--------------


7. Energy cooperation is an important part of the strategic
relationship between China and Russia, Jiang answered when
asked by a Kazakh news reporter about Sino-Russian oil
pipeline cooperation. Russia and China have reached a
consensus to work together on the construction of an oil
pipeline that will be conducive to the common development of
both nations, she added.

Saddam Verdict

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8. China believes the fate of Saddam should be decided by
the Iraqi people, Jiang said when asked to comment on the
sentencing of Saddam Hussein. China hopes that all Iraqi
people can enjoy peaceful lives as soon as possible, she
stated.

Kyrgyzstan Reforms
--------------


9. China has taken note of the opposition party
demonstrations in Kyrgyzstan, Jiang said when asked to
comment by a reporter. Kyrgyzstan is a friendly neighbor and
fellow member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
China believes that the Kyrgyz people have the ability to
resolve this issue within the legal framework. Beijing hopes
the international community can play a constructive role in
helping Kyrgyzstan to maintain its internal stability, Jiang
said.

China-Vietnam Relations
--------------


10. In order to implement the consensus reached in August
between China and Vietnam, Counselor Tang Jiaxuan and
Vietnamese PM Pham Gia Khiem will co-chair the first meeting
of the upcoming Guiding Committee for China-Vietnam Bilateral
Relationship.

Visits
--------------


11. President Hu Jintao will attend the 14th APEC Economic
Leaders meeting in Hanoi from November 17-19, Jiang
announced. Hu will conduct a state visit to Vietnam from
November 15-17 before APEC and will then visit Laos from
November 19-20, India from November 20-23 and Pakistan from
November 23-26. At the conclusion of the press conference,
the MFA held a subsequent, more detailed briefing on Hu's
planned travels following APEC (septel).


12. Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
Massimo D'Alema will visit China November 12-15 to attend the
second meeting of the Italy-China Intergovernmental Committee.
Randt