APRIL 6 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: NO PLANS FOR HAMAS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BEIJING 006530

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECON PHUM PARM KNNP CH JP
SUBJECT: APRIL 6 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: NO PLANS FOR HAMAS
VISIT; VFM WU TO TOKYO; JCCT; SINO-JAPAN RELATIONS


BEIJING 00006530 001.4 OF 004


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


1. Key points made at the April 6 MFA press briefing are as
follows:

- There are no plans for Palestinian FM Mahmoud Al-Zahhar to
visit China.

- VFM Wu Dawei will travel to Tokyo to meet with the other
heads of the Six-Party Talks delegations, but will not attend
the NEACD.

- China hopes for fruitful JCCT discussions. Eleven Chinese
enterprises and over 200 Chinese entrepreneurs will travel
with Vice Premier Wu Yi to sign or negotiate business deals
in agricultural products, airplanes, software, auto parts and
telecommunication equipment.

- MFA Spokesperson Liu claimed Chinese people are satisfied
with their rights and freedoms, while the United States
should focus on its own problems, stop maintaining double
standards and end its interference in China's internal
affairs.

- Each visit to the Yasukuni Shrine by Japan's leader is a
blow to the China-Japan relationship. China hopes Japan will
respond responsibly and positively to the Chinese leader's
recent clear message on how to improve one of the most
important relationships in the world.

- Commenting on China's presidency of the UNSC, Liu said
China hopes for peaceful solutions to the Iranian and DPRK
nuclear issues through dialogue and looks to India and
Pakistan to build on improved relations to quickly solve
outstanding issues.

- China does not view the U.S.-India nuclear deal as an
attempt to contain China.

- Liu said the purpose of Defense Minister Cao Guangchang's
current visit to the DPRK is to strengthen bilateral ties and
not a response to recent U.S.-ROK exercises.

- China hopes other countries understand that China is
seeking win-win relationships in Latin America that will
bring tangible benefits to all parties. End summary.

No Plans for Palestinian FM to Visit China
--------------


2. Denying that there are any plans for Palestinian FM
Mahmoud Al-Zahhar to visit China, MFA Spokesperson Liu
Jianchao said the reports about a visit must have been the
result of "misinformation." Liu confirmed that PRC Ramallah
Office Director Yang Weiguo had met with the Al-Zahhar and
conveyed the message that China wants to develop even
friendlier relations with Palestine and hopes the Palestinian
government will take active steps towards peace in the Middle
East.

VFM Wu Dawei Will Meet with Six-Party Heads in Tokyo
-------------- --------------


3. Asked whether VFM Wu Dawei would attend the Northeast
Asia Cooperation Dialogue (NEACD) meeting in Tokyo, Liu
reported that Wu would be in Tokyo at the same time as the
NEACD but would not participate in the event. Instead, the
purpose of Wu's visit to Tokyo is to meet with the other
Six-Party Talks heads of delegatiom. This will not be the a
new round of Six-Party Talks but does represent a good
opportunity for the heads of delegations to exchange views on
how to overcome the difficulties of getting to the next round
of Six Party Talks. Denying that he had information about
Wu's exact plans in Tokyo, Liu said the timing of Wu's
meetings with other heads of delegation would depend on their
schedules. Liu said the various parties should make joint
efforts for the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks and
the early realization of the contents of the joint statement.
Liu denied having any knowledge about reports that DPRK VFM
Kim Gye-Gwan is currently in Beijing.


BEIJING 00006530 002.4 OF 004



4. Liu said MFA Asian Affairs Department officials and
Ministry of National Defense officials would represent in the
NEACD in an unofficial capacity.

China-U.S. Trade Relations and Business Deals
--------------


5. Liu said China and the United States are important
trading partners and bilateral trade serves the interests of
both countries, with the United States being China's second
largest trading partner and China the fourth largest export
market for the United States. The JCCT is an important
mechanism for the discussion of common interests and the
exchange of views on problems in U.S.-China trade. Liu
expressed hope that the upcoming JCCT session would be
fruitful.


6. Asked to comment on reports that PRC companies will
purchase $15 billion of U.S. goods prior to President Hu's
visit to the United States, Liu reported that 11 Chinese
enterprises and 202 Chinese entrepreneurs would accompany
Vice Premier Wu Yi to the United States. Visiting 14 cities
in 13 states, the Chinese businesses will sign or negotiate
contracts for agricultural products, airplanes, software,
auto parts and telecommunication and other electronic
equipment. As for the total value of the contracts, Liu said
that would need to wait for a few more days.

Chinese People "Satisfied" with Rights and Freedoms
-------------- --------------


7. Asked about the U.S. Human Rights Report's criticism of
China's human rights record, Liu argued that China had
realized remarkable achievements in protecting human rights,
with the Chinese people enjoying rights and freedoms as set
out in the constitution. The Chinese people are satisfied
with their situation and the international community is
satisfied with China's efforts, claimed Liu. He urged the
United States to correct its own human rights problems, to
stop maintaining double standards and to end its interference
in the internal affairs of other countries. Asked whether
human rights would be part of President Hu's discussions with
President Bush, Liu said he did not know the the specifics of
the visit.

Sino-Japan Relations
--------------


8. China's relations with Japan was again a major topic. Liu
said the current difficulties in relations is because of
individual Japanese leaders' visits to Yasukuni Shrine to pay
tribute to the Class A war criminals enshrined there and that
each visit is a blow to the Chinese people and Sino-Japan
relations. The proper handling of the historical issue is
important for the sound and steady development of bilateral
relations and to prevent the reoccurrence of historical
tragedies. Asked to comment on why China has recently blamed
the poor relations on the actions of Japan's leader and not
the Japanese people, Liu said that the people of China and
Japan have a history of over 1000 years of largely living in
harmony with mutual trust and respect. The current impasse
is solely because of the visits by Japan's leader to Yasukuni
Shrine. The Japanese people have nothing to do with the
impasse, while most of the Chinese population wants good
relations with Japan. Liu said China's leader recently sent
a clear message to Japan and China hopes Japan will respond
in a responsible and positive manner.


9. Remarking that the Sino-Japanese relationship is one of
the most important in the world, Liu claimed that the Chinese
Government is dealing with Japan from a strategic point of
view with its long-term interests in mind, as well as with
the understanding that good relations serve the interests of
both countries. Liu said that no matter what happens over
the historical issue, China would maintain relations with
Japan based on the three PRC/Japan political documents.
China hopes that Japan will take history as a mirror and look
to the future. For its part, China will continue to promote
people-people exchanges to strengthen the relationship,
according to Liu.


10. In response to more specific questions on the

BEIJING 00006530 003.4 OF 004


China-Japan relationship, Liu said China has every right to
engage in exploration in the Chunxia gas fields, which are
entirely within Chinese territory. On the cessation of
Japanese ODA to China, Beijing is expecting Tokyo to adhere
to their bilateral agreement and unilateral action by Japan
would not be helpful. Liu remarked that China hopes all
issues can be resolved through dialogue.

Internal Affairs
--------------


11. Pushed to comment on the inconsistency in how China
defines internal affairs, Liu said internal affairs are not
decided by individual countries and suggested the reporter
look at the UN Charter for definitions. Liu said that while
human rights are an internal affair and China rejects
interference by others seeking to promote human rights in the
PRC, China does see the benefit of engaging in dialogue based
on equality and mutual respect in order to learn about how to
improve human rights in all countries. Arguing that
Japanese leaders' visits to Yasukuni Shrine are not Japan's
internal affair, Liu said the visits hurt the feelings of
people in other countries and affect Japan's bilateral
relations with its neighbors, including China.

PRC Presidency of the UN Security Council
--------------


12. Asked to comment about what China would do during its
month-long UNSC presidency to promote peace in Iraq, Iran and
South Asia, Liu said China, whether as a permanent member of
the UNSC or as President of the UNSC, will continue to play
an active role in promoting peace and development everywhere.
On the Iranian and DPRK nuclear issues, China hopes a
peaceful solution will be found through dialogue. Liu noted
the steady improvement in India-Pakistan relations due to the
constant efforts of both countries. China hopes India and
Pakistan will sieze the opportunity and quickly solve their
outstanding issues, including Kashmir, which will bring peace
and development to the region.

U.S.-India Nuclear Deal
--------------


13. Rejecting the view that the U.S.-India civilian nuclear
agreement was part of an effort to contain China, Liu said
Beijing welcomes improved U.S.-India relations that benefit
regional stability. He also noted that China expects both
countries to abide by their non-proliferation commitments.

Defense Minister Cao's Visit to the DPRK
--------------


14. Asked to comment on whether Defense Minister Cao
Guangchang's visit is in response to recent U.S.-ROK war
games, Liu said Cao's visit is a bilateral exchange that will
improve PRC-DPRK relations and is not targeted at a third
country. Cao's visit will also increase stability in the
region. Liu said he had no information on a meeting between
Cao and DPRK leader Kim Jong-Il.

China in Latin America
--------------


15. Asked to comment on growing economic and political
relations between China and Latin American countries, Liu
said that politically, China is following the path towards
peaceful development, while economically it is seeking mutual
benefit through economic cooperation. China's goal is a
win-win situation and Beijing will always keep the interests
of other countries in mind, continued Liu, expressing hope
that other countries would understand this. Liu said Latin
American countries are satisfied with the expanding political
and economic relations with China that have lead to tangible
results to benefit of all.

Singapore Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong's Visit
-------------- --


16. Liu reported that Singapore Senior Minister Goh Chok
Tong will visit China April 12 -18. He will meet with
Premier Wen, State Councilor Tang and CPPCC National

BEIJING 00006530 004.3 OF 004


Committee Chair Jia Qinglin in Beijing and also visit
Shanghai and Suzhou. Liu said the meetings will build on the
positive momentum in China-Singapore relations that have been
built on the frequent exchanges of high level visitors. Key
topics will be the development of western China and how to
increase person-to-person exchanges.

Senior Moroccan Official in Beijing
--------------


17. Asked to comment on the purpose of the Morocco's Deputy
Foreign Minister's current visit to China, Liu said the
official was a special envoy sent to Beijing to pave the way
for Hu's visit to Morocco which will occur as part of Hu's
multi-nation April trip that includes the United States. Liu
asked the reporters to wait a few more days and then he would
be able to brief them on Hu's complete trip intinerary.

Other Upcoming Visits
--------------

18. Kazakhstan FM Kasymzhomart Tokayev will visit to China
April 13-15 and meet with Premier Wen, State Councilor Tang
Jaixuan and FM Li Zhaoxing. Lithuanian FM Antanas Valenis
will visit China April 12-19.
RANDT