MARCH 13 MFA PRESS BRIEFING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001676

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SIPDIS

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SUBJECT: MARCH 13 MFA PRESS BRIEFING


1. Key points made at the March 13 MFA press
conference were:

-- The first denuclearization working group meeting
will be held on March 17 chaired by VFM Wu.

-- IAEA Chief ElBaradei was briefed by VFM Wu on the
Six-Party Talks in Beijing en route to Pyongyang.

-- Australia and Japan should consider concerns of
third parties when making bilateral security
agreements.

-- China's position on war reparation cases remains
unchanged since the 1972 Joint-Statement and China
hopes Japan can handle historical issues "seriously"
and consider the "humanitarian factor."

-- China hopes Sudan can reach consensus with the UN
and AU to take action as soon as possible.

-- Chinese officials will visit Australia, other
Pacific islands and Pakistan beginning next week and
Pakistan FM Khurshid will visit China March 18-21.

Denuclearization Working Group to Begin March 17
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2. MFA Spokesperson Qin Gang announced at the March
13 regular press briefing that the first meeting of
the working group on the denuclearization of the
Korean Peninsula will be held March 17 in Beijing
headed by VFM Wu Dawei. The working group meetings
should conclude before the Sixth Round of the Six-
Party Talks commences on March 19, at which time the
activities and achievements of the groups will be
reported to the heads of delegations, he said. Qin
had no exact information on the other working groups
or the times and venues of upcoming Six-Party Talks
meetings.

IAEA Chief Met VFM Wu En Route to DPRK
--------------


3. IAEA Chief Mohamed ElBaradei stopped in Beijing to
meet with VFM Wu Dawei en route to Pyongyang where
ElBaradei arrived today. VFM Wu briefed ElBaradei on
the contents of the Six-Party Talks. China hopes
ElBaradei's visit will achieve positive results.

Japan-Australia Security Agreement - China Tranquil
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4. Countries enhancing bilateral security cooperation
should take into consideration the interests and
concerns of relevant countries to increase mutual
trust and regional stability, said Qin commenting on
the recent signing of a defensive agreement between
Japan and Australia. Qin hopes statements that the
agreement is not targeted towards China are true and
would not draw a connection to increased Chinese
military spending. China poses no threat to other
countries, has a defensive military policy, follows
the UN Charter and upholds the policies of peaceful
coexistence and mutually beneficial development, said
the spokesman.

Japan Should Take War Reparations Cases "Seriously"
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5. Asked repeatedly to clarify whether private Chinese
citizens have the right to seek wartime reparations
from Japan and the Chinese government's position on
pending cases, Qin responded all questions could be
resolved through a framework with two principles.
First, China maintains the position outlined in the
1972 Joint-Statement. Second, China hopes Japan
handles the historical issues "seriously" and
considers the "humanitarian factor" as forced labor
was a major crime of Japanese militarism. Qin would
not comment on Abe's recent apology for remarks about
comfort women.

Sudan, UN, AU Should Take "Real Action"
--------------


6. Questioned about Sudan President al-Bashir's
letter to the UN calling for restrictions on UN
deployment plans, Qin replied the international
community has reached consensus in deploying a mixed
UN/AU force. China hopes the Sudanese government, UN
and AU can reach consensus turning the agreement into
"real action."

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Sri Lanka Port Agreement Just Business
--------------


7. A recent agreement signed on March 12 between
China and Sri Lanka to jointly develop a seaport is a
business deal between companies, not a government
matter, said Qin. China's friendly relations with Sri
Lanka are based on mutual benefit and equality.

Visits to Pacific Islands, Pakistan, Russia
--------------


8. Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan will visit Australia, New
Zealand, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea March 19-31.
Minister of Communications Li Shenglin will travel to
Pakistan March 18-21 to celebrate the completion of
the deep-sea port at Gwadar. Pakistan FM Khurshid
Kasuri will pay an official visit to China March 18-21
at the invitation of FM Li Zhaoxing. More information
will be released at a later date regarding President
Hu's visit to Russia planned for late March.
RANDT