APRIL 13 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: AFM CUI TO IRAN,

UNCLAS BEIJING 007042 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ECON PHUM PARM KNNP CH IR SUBJECT: APRIL 13 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: AFM CUI TO IRAN, SIX-PARTY TALKS, SINO-JAPANESE TIES Summary -------------- ¶1. Key points made at the April 13 MFA press briefing are as follows: - Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai will travel to Iran and Russia April 14-18 in an effort to help resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis. - China is concerned about Iran's recent announcement about its uranium enrichment activities. - A nuclear-free Korean Peninsula is of greater importance that the financial sanctions, and the Six- Parties should focus on the more significant goal of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. - Beijing hopes Tokyo will demonstrate courage and wisdom to properly settle historical problems. - State Councilor Hua Jianmin will visit Egypt, Turkey and Russia April 18-25. End Summary. Iranian Nuclear Issue -------------- ¶2. Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai will travel to Iran and Russia April 14-18 and exchange views with the two countries' officials in an effort to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, MFA Spokesperson Liu Jianchao announced at the regular April 13 MFA press conference. Questioned about Iran's recent announcement about its successful enrichment of uranium, Liu expressed China's concern over the announcement. Beijing hopes the relevant parties will exercise restraint, not take actions that might aggravate the situation and resolve the issue through dialogue. China is giving positive consideration to attendance at the meeting of the P-5 and Germany April 18 in Moscow. Nuclear-Free Korean Peninsula Supercedes Sanctions -------------- -------------- ¶3. Questioned about the future of the Six-Party Talks and recent statements by A/S Hill in Seoul, Liu called on the all the parties to adhere to the objective of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and use the Six-Party Talks mechanism to achieve a proper resolution to the DPRK nuclear issue. The Talks serve all the parties' interests. China hopes the relevant parties can adopt a more positive attitude and exercise flexibility on the financial sanctions issue in order to resume the Talks promptly. Highlighting that a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula is of greater importance than the financial issues, Liu asserted that the parties should focus on the more significant goal of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. Yasukuni Shrine -------------- ¶4. Asked by the Kyodo correspondent about Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe's reported remarks on continuing visits to the Yasukuni Shrine should he become prime minister, Liu emphasized that historical issues form the basis of Sino-Japanese relations. These issues cannot be left unresolved. Beijing hopes Tokyo will demonstrate courage and wisdom to properly settle historical problems. SC Hua Jianmin's Travel -------------- ¶5. Liu announced that State Councilor Hua Jianmin will visit Egypt, Turkey and Russia April 18-25. RANDT