APRIL 11 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: PRESIDENT HU'S U.S.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 006852 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ECON PHUM PARM KNNP CH IR SUBJECT: APRIL 11 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: PRESIDENT HU'S U.S. AND OTHER TRAVEL, SIX-PARTY TALKS, IRAN, JAPAN, SUDAN Summary -------------- ¶1. Key points made at the April 11 MFA press briefing are as follows: - President Hu Jintao will visit the United States April 18-21, Saudi Arabia April 22-24, Morocco April 24-26, Nigeria April 26-27 and Kenya April 27-28. - Beijing hopes President Hu's U.S. trip will help reduce bilateral differences and allow for candid discussions in an atmosphere of mutual respect. - Chinese business representatives included in Vice Premier Wu Yi's delegation to the United States signed important contracts with their U.S. counterparts involving a large monetary figure. - Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei and his Six-Party Talks counterparts are exchanging views in Tokyo on ways to resume the Talks. - China supports IAEA Director General ElBaradei's upcoming visit to Iran. - During his April 12-15 visit to China, WHA Assistant Secretary Shannon and Chinese officials will discuss SIPDIS policies and cooperation in Latin America. - Tokyo should "face up" to the problems in Sino- Japanese ties and try to promote normal relations. - China is making positive efforts for the restoration of peace and stability in Sudan. - Beijing welcomes improvements in U.S.-Vietnam relations. End Summary. President Hu's April 18-29 U.S. and Other Travel -------------- --- ¶2. President Hu Jintao will visit the United States April 18-21, Saudi Arabia April 22-24, Morocco April 24-26, Nigeria April 26-27 and Kenya April 27-28, MFA Spokesperson Liu Jianchao announced at the regular April 11 MFA press briefing. Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will offer a preview of the trip during a special April 14 press briefing. Liu noted that President Hu will arrive in Seattle on April 18, visit Washington, D.C., on April 20 and deliver a speech at Yale University on April 21. He will hold talks with President Bush and other U.S. leaders on bilateral ties and major international issues, as well as interact with U.S. Congressmen, state and municipal officials, business representatives and the American public. President Hu's U.S. visit aims to promote mutual trust and constructive cooperation. Asked about U.S. pressure on China with regard to intellectual property rights and the RMB exchange rate, Liu expressed the hope that the visit will help reduce differences and allow for candid discussions in an atmosphere of mutual respect. ¶3. Asked by the Bloomberg correspondent what message President Hu will deliver on Taiwan, Liu stated that on numerous occasions Washington has reiterated its opposition to Taiwan independence as well as support for its one-China policy and the principles of the Three Joint Communiques. Beijing appreciates these commitments, hopes they will translate into actions and wishes to work with the United States to safeguard cross-Strait peace and stability. Questioned by the Reuters correspondent about the recent call by U.S. Congressmen on President Bush to urge President Hu to release Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) Yang Jianli, Liu maintaied that China has always attempted to resolvebilateral differences on the basis of equality, mutual respect and dialogue. Previous rounds of U.S.-China human rights dialogue have helped reduce disputes. China's legal and judicial authorities will handle Yang's case according to the law. BEIJING 00006852 002 OF 003 ¶4. Asked whether discussions over oil will be President Hu's top priority for the Africa portion of the trip, Liu stated that energy cooperation is one important but not the only component of China's bilateral cooperation. In order to satisfy its energy needs China will not rely solely on imports but rather depend on domestic energy resources, which supply 80 percent of current energy consumption. President Hu's trip will enhance cooperation in various fields, including energy, culture and personnel exchanges. In addition to his speech at Yale on China's peaceful development path, President Hu will address the Saudi Arabian parliament and deliver a talk in Nigeria on China's relations with Nigeria and Africa. VP Wu Yi Presides Over Signing of U.S.-China Contracts -------------- -------------- ¶5. Liu reported that during Vice Premier Wu Yi's visit to the United States, Chinese business representatives included in her delegation signed important contracts with their U.S. counterparts. These contracts involved large monetary figures. Liu declined to offer information on bilateral agreements that will be signed during President Hu's trip to the United States. Six-Party Talks -------------- ¶6. Asked about Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei's current visit to Tokyo, Liu noted that VFM Wu is visiting Japan as the PRC delegation head to the Six- Party Talks and is not attending the April 9-13 Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue (NEACD). Meeting outside of the NEACD, he and all his Six-Party Talks counterparts are exchanging views on ways to resume the Talks. VFM Wu stressed that dialogue will help resolve the DPRK nuclear issue and that the parties must focus on a peaceful resolution. Some of the parties have raised helpful suggestions, which China hopes will reduce differences among the parties. ¶7. Questioned about the Macau Government's investigation into North Korean money laundering schemes, Liu expressed Beijing's opposition to money laundering and other illicit financial activities, adding that an investigation should be conducted into such activities. China, however, does not want the financial sanctions to obstruct the resumption of the Six-Party Talks. China hopes that the parties will concentrate on the DPRK nuclear issue and use the Talks as a mechanism to resolve the issue. Iranian Nuclear Issue -------------- ¶8. Responding to the Xinhua reporter's question, Liu expressed China's support for IAEA Director General ElBaradei's upcoming visit to Iran. Beijing welcomes his role in resolving the Iranian nuclear issue within the IAEA framework and hopes the visit will promote diplomatic efforts and receive backing from the international community. A/S Shannon's Visit -------------- ¶9. In response to the Spanish News Agency correspondent's inquiry, Liu noted that WHA Assistant Secretary Shannon will visit China April 12-15 and SIPDIS meet with Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and MFA Latin American Affairs Director General Zeng Gang. They will discuss policies and cooperation in Latin America. This visit is an important part of the U.S.- China Senior Dialogue and will help increase mutual understanding. Japanese Official on Chinese Nationalism -------------- ¶10. Asked by the Kyodo News correspondent about reported remarks by a Japanese Embassy official on BEIJING 00006852 003 OF 003 Chinese television about a rise in Chinese nationalism, Liu rejected the Japanese official's remarks and asserted that China disagrees with "narrow nationalism." Beijing opposes such "smears," which are not helpful for the improvement of China-Japan relations. Tokyo should "face up" to the problems in bilateral ties and try to promote normal relations. Sudan -------------- ¶11. Questioned about reported international criticism of China for contributing to the war in Sudan, Liu asserted that China is making positive efforts for the restoration of peace and stability in Sudan. Beijing hopes that the parties concerned will implement relevant agreements and that the African Union will play a stronger role in resolving Sudan's problems. U.S.-Vietnam Relations -------------- ¶12. Asked for China's view on the improvement of U.S.-Vietnam relations, Liu remarked that China welcomes these developments and hopes the warming of U.S.-Vietnam ties will promote regional peace and stability. Zhao Yan -------------- ¶13. Asked about detained NY Times researcher Zhao Yan, Liu reiterated that the MFA has no additional information on the case. RANDT