MARCH 21 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: CONGRESSIONAL VISIT,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BEIJING 005223

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECON PHUM PARM CH IR
SUBJECT: MARCH 21 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: CONGRESSIONAL VISIT,
U.S.-CHINA FRICTIONS, PUTIN VISIT, IRANIAN NUCLEAR ISSUE,
IRAQ, UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR REPORT, UNHCR, ZHAO YAN, MA
YING-JEOU, TANG TO NEPAL, INFORMATION DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL
SHUFFLE

REF: FBIS 20060320005005

Summary
--------------


1. Key points made at the March 21 MFA press briefing
are as follows:

- During a March 21 meeting with U.S. Senators Graham,
Schumer and Coburn, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing
emphasized that the two countries should view
bilateral relations from a strategic perspective and
properly resolve disputes.

- Beijing hopes Washington will take an objective,
fair and rational view of China's development.

- During Russian President Putin's visit to China, he
and Chinese leaders will discuss the Iranian nuclear
issue, which both countries hope to resolve through
diplomacy.

- Restoring stability and promoting reconstruction are
the most pressing issues on Iraq.

- China expresses dissatisfaction and regret over the
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture's report on his visit
to China.

- Beijing hopes the visit by the UN High Commissioner
for Refugees will help enhance mutual confidence and
cooperation.

- China's judicial organs will handle the case of
detained NYT journalist Zhao Yan according to the law.

- Asked about KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou's visit to the
United States, MFA Spokesperson Qin Gang said that
China does not challenge non-official exchanges
between Taiwan and other parties.

- While visiting Nepal State Councilor Tang
highlighted that China will not alter its policy of
friendship toward Nepal, regardless of changes in the
international situation.

- Director General of the MFA Information Department
Kong Quan has been appointed Director General for
European Affairs. Deputy Director General Liu
Jianchao is the new Information Department DG.

- Romanian President Basescu will visit China March
27-29. Polish FM Meller will visit China March 28-30.
Algerian FM Bedjaoui will pay a visit March 27-29.
End Summary.

U.S. Congressional Delegation and Bilateral Frictions
-------------- --------------


2. During the regular March 21 MFA press briefing,
MFA Spokesperson Qin Gang noted that U.S. Senators
Graham, Schumer and Coburn arrived in Beijing earlier
in the day and will also visit Shanghai and Hong Kong
before departing on March 26. The Senators will meet
National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee
Vice Chairman Sheng Huaren, State Councilor Wu Yi and
leading officials from the MFA, NPC Foreign Affairs
Committee, National Development and Reform Commission
(NDRC),Ministry of Commerce and People's Bank of
China (PBOC). In a recently concluded meeting with
the U.S. delegation, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing
stressed that U.S.-China cooperation serves the
interests of both nations and the world at large. In
recent years bilateral ties have sustained positive
momentum and achieved progress in a wide range of
areas including nonproliferation, avian influenza, the
Iranian nuclear issue and Afghanistan's
reconstruction. FM Li emphasized that Beijing and
Washington should view bilateral relations from a
strategic perspective and properly resolve disputes in
order to promote overall constructive and cooperative
relations in the 21st century. FM Li also expressed

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SUBJECT: MARCH 21 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: CONGRESSIONAL VISIT,
U.S.-CHINA FRICTIONS, PUTIN VISIT, IRANIAN NUCLEAR ISSUE,
IRAQ, UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR REPORT, UNHCR, ZHAO YAN, MA
YING-JEOU, TANG TO NEPAL, INFORMATION DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL
SHUFFLE

China's consistent position on Taiwan.


2. The U.S. Senators stated that the two countries
should continue to promote close relations and resolve
bilateral differences by adopting a "conciliatory
attitude" and conducting negotiations in order to
avoid creating a rift in the relationship, Qin
continued. They expressed the hope that China will
continue to develop and "reunify" at some point in the
future. The Senators conveyed their views on the RMB
revaluation and U.S.-China trade issues. FM Li
briefed them on Beijing's exchange rate policy and
perspective on bilateral trade, highlighting that
trade is mutually beneficial. U.S.-China frictions
should be resolved on the basis of equality and
consultation and should not be politicized or
exaggerated.

U.S. Should Adopt "Fair" View of PRC Military Policy
-------------- --------------


3. Asked by the AP correspondent about Beijing's
reported protests to Washington over the recently
released U.S. National Security Strategy report and
about PRC defense policy, Qin noted that he had issued
an official statement on the matter on March 20 (ref).
Maintaining China's sovereignty and territorial
integrity is the irrefutable responsibility of the
Chinese Government, he stressed. China's defense
expenditure aims to raise the standard of living of
PLA servicemen within a "new context" and to
counterbalance rising prices. Questioned whether U.S.
pressure on China would dampen the atmosphere for
President Hu Jintao's April visit, Qin remarked that
China wishes to step up dialogue and cooperation with
the United States. Beijing has addressed U.S.
concerns pertaining to China's development path and
economic and trade frictions on many occasions. The
two countries must consider each other's concerns and
interests in handling bilateral ties. The United
States has raised the concept of China becoming a
stakeholder, but this is a "two-way issue," Qin
asserted. Beijing hopes Washington will take an
objective, fair and rational view of China's
development and properly handle bilateral disputes.


4. Asked to comment on the recently concluded U.S.-
Australia-Japan security dialogue, Qin called on the
three countries to take more steps to build confidence
and maintain peace and security in the region.
Remarking that some people view the trilateral
security meeting as targeted against China, Qin
stressed that Beijing and Washington should develop
constructive and cooperative relations, which is the
consensus reached by the two countries' leaders. Over
the past few years, bilateral relations in general
have developed smoothly, particularly in handling
several international issues, and this "hard won"
progress should be cherished. The United States and
China should implement the consensus reached by their
leaders. Washington should adopt an objective view
toward China and avoid remarks that do not benefit
bilateral cooperation or global peace and stability.

President Putin's Visit
--------------


5. During Russian President Putin's March 21-22 visit
to China he will meet President Hu, Premier Wen Jiabao
and NPC Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo, Qin
reported in response to a question on Putin's agenda
and whether he will discuss joint oil pipeline
construction. The two nations will sign a number of
bilateral agreements covering a wide range of fields.
Russia has expressed its willingness to work with
China on the pipeline construction, and Beijing is
prepared to strengthen cooperation with Moscow on this
issue. Discussing the significance of the China-
Russia strategic partnership, Qin noted that the two
leaders issued a joint declaration on the
international order to promote global peace and
stability. The two countries have completely resolved

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SUBJECT: MARCH 21 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: CONGRESSIONAL VISIT,
U.S.-CHINA FRICTIONS, PUTIN VISIT, IRANIAN NUCLEAR ISSUE,
IRAQ, UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR REPORT, UNHCR, ZHAO YAN, MA
YING-JEOU, TANG TO NEPAL, INFORMATION DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL
SHUFFLE

their border dispute, established a parliamentary
exchange mechanism, conducted joint military exercises
and enhanced counterterrorism cooperation,
particularly in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO) framework.

China-Russia Consensus on Iranian Nuclear Issue
-------------- --


6. Asked by the Kyodo News Agency correspondent
whether the two Presidents will discuss the Iranian
and North Korea nuclear issues and Russia's proposal
on Iranian nuclear enrichment activities, Qin noted
that the topics will be raised. Both countries
maintain a constructive attitude toward helping
achieve a resolution and share the objective of
resolving the issue in a peaceful manner. China
believes there is still potential to resolve the
Iranian nuclear issue through negotiation, Qin
highlighted. All the parties should demonstrate
flexibility in order to create conditions conducive to
a proper settlement. Reiterating that China and
Russia share common views on the issue, Qin asserted
that Russia's proposal is a helpful attempt to break
the current impasse and achieve a final resolution.
China supports all such efforts. Asked by the AFP
reporter to comment on the British and French draft
circulating in the UNSC, Qin remarked that a
diplomatic resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue is
in the interests of all the parties concerned,
including UNSC members, and all the parties should
step up negotiations. He highlighted that the U.S.
Ambassador to the UN has stated that all the parties
should continue consultations, adding that this is not
only the wish of China and Russia but of all the
nations concerned.

Iraq
--------------


7. Asked about the anniversary of the Iraq war, Qin
remarked that countries should resolve disputes
through negotiation. The most pressing issue is to
promote Iraq's reconstruction efforts and restore
stability to Iraq.

China "Dissatisfied" with UN Special Rapporteur Report
-------------- --------------


8. Asked to comment on the recently issued report by
UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nowak on his November
2005 visit to China, Qin expressed China's
dissatisfaction and regret over the report. He argued
that Nowak's report did not represent a comprehensive
and objective reflection of China's efforts to prevent
torture. While the paper made some positive comments
on China's steps to eliminate the use of torture, it
contained many problems, was based on incorrect and
unverified information, exceeded the scope of Nowak's
authority, indicated a misunderstanding of Chinese law
and held unfair views toward Chinese law. China has
laws and a supervisory mechanism to prevent the use of
torture, Qin asserted.

Visit by UN High Commissioner for Refugees
--------------


9. Qin noted that the MFA invited UN High
Commissioner for Refugees Guterres to visit China
March 20-22. He will meet State Councilor Tang
Jiaxuan and officials from the MFA, Ministry of Public
Security (MPS),Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of
Civil Affairs to discuss refugee issues and China's
cooperation with the UN High Commission for Refugees
(UNHCR). Beijing hopes the visit will help enhance
mutual confidence and cooperation. Earlier in the day
High Commissioner Guterres held positive talks with FM
Li, who expressed the hope that the UNHCR will
cooperate with China on refugee treatment issues.
Asked whether North Korean refugees in China will be
discussed, Qin argued that they are illegal migrants
and not refugees. China will continue to follow PRC

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SUBJECT: MARCH 21 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: CONGRESSIONAL VISIT,
U.S.-CHINA FRICTIONS, PUTIN VISIT, IRANIAN NUCLEAR ISSUE,
IRAQ, UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR REPORT, UNHCR, ZHAO YAN, MA
YING-JEOU, TANG TO NEPAL, INFORMATION DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL
SHUFFLE

and international laws and humanitarian principles in
dealing with these people, he stated.

NYT Reporter Zhao Yan
--------------


10. Asked by the New York Times correspondent about
the legal status of detained NYT reporter Zhao Yan,
Qin declined to discuss the details of the case. "We
should trust China's judicial organs to handle the
matter according to the law," he suggested.

Ma Ying-jeou U.S. Trip
--------------


11. Asked whether KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou's visit
to the United States constitutes a violation of the
U.S. one-China policy, Qin replied that China does not
challenge non-official exchanges between Taiwan and
other parties. Beijing, however, firmly opposes
Taiwan actions aimed at splitting China.

State Councilor Tang's Visit to Nepal
--------------


12. Qin reported that during State Councilor Tang
Jiaxuan's March 16-18 visit to Nepal, he met King
Gyanendra, FM Pandey, Vice Chairmen of the Council of
Ministers and Chairmen of the Nepali Congress and
Communist Parties. Tang highlighted that China will
not alter its policy of friendship toward Nepal,
regardless of changes in the international situation.
He said that Beijing will not interfere in other
countries' internal affairs and Nepal should select
its own path of development. China will continue to
back Nepal's efforts to maintain its stability and
territorial integrity. Nepali leaders thanked China
for its consistent support, according to Qin.

CPPCC Chairman Jia in Vietnam
--------------


13. During a March 20-24 visit to Vietnam, Chinese
People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)
Chairman Jia Qinglin met with Vietnamese Communist
Party Central Committee Executive Secretary Phan Dien,
Qin noted. The commented on the positive development
of inter-party relations, economic and trade
relations, the gradual resolution of border disputes
and the implementation of the Gulf of Tonkin Treaty.
Chairman Jia made a two-point proposal to further
enhance bilateral exchanges and deepen cooperation in
these areas.

MFA Information Department Personnel Change
--------------


14. Qin confirmed that Director General of the MFA
Information Department has been appointed Director
General for European Affairs, due to "work
considerations." Deputy Director General Liu Jianchao
has been named the new Information Department DG.

Upcoming Visits
--------------


15. Qin announced that Romanian President Basescu
will visit China March 27-29. Polish FM Meller will
visit China March 28-30. Algerian FM Bedjaoui will
apy a visit March 27-29.
RANDT