MARCH 27 PRESS BRIEFING: SIX-PARTY TALKS, PM WEN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002059 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MNUC CH KN KS JA RS ST SP IN PK SUBJECT: MARCH 27 PRESS BRIEFING: SIX-PARTY TALKS, PM WEN TO ROK AND JAPAN, EAST CHINA SEA TALKS, JCS GENERAL PACE VISIT, CHINA-RUSSIA JOINT STATEMENT, TAIWAN-ST. LUCIA RELATIONS, VISITS ¶1. Key points made at the March 27 MFA press conference were: -- The MFA Spokesman said no date has been set for the next round of Six-Party Talks, discussed DAS Glaser's visit on the Banco Delta Asia issue and ducked other questions about why last week's Talks broke down. -- Premier Wen will visit the Republic of Korea April 10-11 and to Japan April 11-13. The seventh round of East China Sea Talks will be held in Tokyo March 29. -- United States' Joint Chiefs of Staff General Pace met with FM Li and visited Nanjing and Shenyang. -- The China-Russia Joint Statement enshrines both countries' consensus on energy cooperation and will benefit international energy markets. -- China strongly opposes recent contacts between Taiwan and St. Lucia. -- FM Li will visit Pakistan April 1-2 and New Delhi April 3-4. -- Spanish First Deputy Prime Minister de la Vega will visit China April 2-8 for opening ceremonies of the "Year of Spain in China." Six-Party Talks; DAS Glaser in Beijing -------------- ¶2. MFA spokesman Qin Gang said at the March 27 regular press briefing that relevant parties are having consultations on the Banco Delta Asia (BDA) issue and the resolve of all six parties to the Six-Party Talks remains unchanged. No date for the next round of Talks has been set. Asked about Treasury DAS Glaser's meetings with the People's Bank of China, MFA, DPRK officials and China's Bank Regulatory Commission, the spokesman only confirmed Glaser was meeting with relevant parties and departments. Qin deflected detailed questions on BDA and declined to comment on a question alleging that Russia's head of delegation blamed the United States for the breakdown in Talks. PM Wen to Visit ROK and Japan -------------- ¶3. Premier Wen will visit the Republic of Korea April 10-11 then travel to Japan April 11-13 at the invitation of President Roh and PM Abe, respectively. He had no details about Premier Wen's schedule. The seventh round of East China Sea Talks will begin March 29 in Tokyo and be led by MFA DG for Asia Hu Zhengyue and Japan DG Kinichiro Sasae, announced Qin. ¶4. Asked if Wen and Abe would discuss Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, Qin said this was a UN issue to be handled multilaterally and required patience to come to a consensus. China's cooperation with Southeast Asian countries should not threaten any third party and is conducted according to the policy of building mutual trust, Qin said, noting that he had not read a recent Japanese military report labeling a rising China as a threat to Japan. China hopes to further joint efforts to promote peace and stability in the region. Qin did not answer questions about the Japan-DPRK abduction issue, PM Abe's statements on comfort women or China's goals for the East China Sea talks. JCS General Pace's Visit -------------- ¶5. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair General Pace met with FM Li and visited Nanjing and Shenyang military districts as part of military exchange between China and the United States, said Qin. He referred reporters to relevant departments for specifics on General Pace's activities in Shenyang and Nanjing. China-Russia Joint Statement: Consensus on Energy Coop -------------- -------------- ¶6. China and Russia energy cooperation is an important part of bilateral relations and is being discussed along with other regional and international issues during President Hu's BEIJING 00002059 002 OF 002 ongoing state visit to Russia, Qin said. Both countries have reached a consensus on energy cooperation, a point enshrined in the recently signed Joint Statement. Cooperation between China, the world's second largest oil consumer, and Russia, the world's second largest oil producer, serves the benefits of both countries and the international energy market. Taiwan "FM" to St. Lucia, Possible Military Sale -------------- --- ¶7. Qin said the PRC's Ambassador to St. Lucia expressed Beijing's dissatisfaction over Taiwan's "so-called Foreign Minister" James Huang's visit to the Caribbean nation, a move which violates joint communiqus between St. Lucia and China and has upset the Chinese people. This "attempt" of some in Taiwan to establish two Chinas for "political aims" will never succeed, he said. St. Lucia should abide by the "one China" principle for the good of the bilateral relationship. ¶8. Beijing strongly opposes official contact and military relations with Taiwan, the spokesman said when asked for comment on the possibility of Taiwan selling fighter jets to the Philippines, Mexico, Guatemala and Chile. Beijing hopes these countries will properly handle the issue in accordance with the "one China" principle, he said. FM Li to Attend SAARC as Observer and Visit Pakistan -------------- -------------- ¶9. FM Li will attend the 14th annual summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in New Delhi April 3-4 at the invitation of the Indian government, following a visit to Pakistan April 1-2 at the invitation of FM Kasuri, announced Qin. This is the first time China is attending the summit as an observer. Asked by Indian reporters to elaborate on China's role in SAARC, Qin emphasized the importance of the regional cooperative organization and China's support as a friendly neighbor. China will make its own positive contribution to the stability and prosperity of SAARC following a policy of equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, he said. Spanish Deputy PM de la Vega to Visit China -------------- ¶10. Spanish First Deputy Prime Minister de la Vega will visit China April 2-8, traveling to Xian and Beijing, announced Qin. De la Vega will meet with PM Wen and State Councilor Tang and attend the opening ceremony of the "Year of Spain in China." The activities will promote mutual friendship and understanding strengthening the two countries' strategic partnership and cooperation in various fields including education, politics, trade and culture, said Qin responding to a Spanish journalist's request for more details. RANDT