MAY 29 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: A/S HILL VISIT, SUDAN,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003601

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETRD SU JA IN KS ID GE
SUBJECT: MAY 29 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: A/S HILL VISIT, SUDAN,
DEATH SENTENCE FOR FORMER FOOD AND DRUG SAFETY CHIEF,
CLIMATE CHANGE, OIE DECISION, TAIWAN, EAST CHINA SEA,
EXTRADITION, INDIAN VISA ISSUE, VISITS


1. Key points at the May 29 MFA Press Conference were:

-- A/S Hill will visit Beijing on May 30 to exchange views on
the Six-Party Talks and other international and bilateral
issues.

-- China seeks a comprehensive solution to the Darfur issue,
Spokesperson Jiang replied when asked about EU pressure and a
proposed humanitarian corridor through Chad.

-- Climate change should be handled within the UNFCCC and
Kyoto Protocol, which form the legal international basis for
addressing the issue.

-- China's lawful rights have been restored by the World
Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

-- China has made solemn representations against the visit to
Japan by Taiwan "separatist" Lee Teng-hui.

-- Visits: The Indonesian VP will visit China June 6-10 and
FM Yang will attend a meeting of Japan, ROK and China Foreign
Ministers on June 3 and the Sixth Asia Cooperation Dialogue
Foreign Ministers meeting June 4-6 in ROK.

A/S Hill to Visit Beijing May 30
--------------


2. At the May 29 regular MFA press briefing, spokesperson
Jiang Yu confirmed that A/S Hill will visit Beijing on May 30
to exchange views on the Six-Party Talks and other
international and bilateral issues.

Sudan, Asia-EU Meeting
--------------


3. China seeks a comprehensive solution to the Darfur issue,
Jiang replied when asked about EU pressure and a proposed
humanitarian corridor through Chad. FM Yang is attending the
Asia-EU Foreign Ministers meeting in Hamburg and China
supports implementing the second phase of the Annan plan and
a diplomatic resolution to the Darfur issue, said Jiang.

Death for Former Head of Food and Drug Administration
-------------- ---


4. Asked for comment on the sentencing to death of former
head of the State Food and Drug Administration Zheng Xiaoyu,
the spokesperson said the MFA is not an authority on the
matter as the case is an internal affair of China. She
remarked though that the sentencing reflects the Government's
commitment to fighting anti-corruption and that the lives and
security of the Chinese people are top priorities.

Fight Climate Change within UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol
-------------- ---


5. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
and Kyoto Protocol form the legal international basis for
fighting climate change, said Jiang when asked why China was
resisting further measures on the issue at the Asia-EU
Foreign Ministers meeting in Hamburg. Jiang stressed that
climate change is a global challenge faced by all countries
and China has taken a variety of measures to fight the
problem. She reiterated that the impact of developing
nations must be treated fairly by developed nations and said
the issue should be handled within the UNFCCC and Kyoto
Protocol.

OIE Restores China's "Lawful Rights"
--------------


6. Jiang praised the recognition of Mainland China as a
sovereign state by the World Organization for Animal Health
(OIE) as the "lawful restoration of the People's Republic of
China's rights," in response to a question from Xinhua News
Agency. She added that Taiwan will continue to participate
as a non-official member under the name "Taipei, China" and
Taiwan's activities in the organization would not be
restricted.

Lee Teng-hui to Japan, East China Sea Dialogue
-------------- -

BEIJING 00003601 002 OF 002




7. China has made solemn representation to Japan in regards
to the upcoming visit of Taiwan's former "president" Lee
Teng-hui, said Jiang when asked by a reporter for comment.
She called on Japan to act in accordance with the principles
of the three joint documents between the two countries, abide
by commitments made on the Taiwan issue and not provide a
platform for the Taiwan separatist movement. Asked for
clarification on the MFA's view of Lee, Jiang replied that
Lee's words and deeds have proven he is a "separatist."


8. On May 25 DG of Asian Affairs Hu Zhengyue and Japan's
head of Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Kenichiro Sasae led
the eighth round of talks on resolving the two countries'
dispute in the East China Sea, said Jiang. She said the next
round of negotiations would be held in the later half of June
and expressed hope that the two sides could work out a plan
of joint development acceptable to both parties.

Extradition Treaties Promising No Death Penalty?
-------------- ---


9. China has signed extradition treaties with twenty-nine
countries, is in contact with another twenty-one on the same
issue and has mutual legal assistance agreements with
forty-one countries, responded Jiang when asked about media
reports that China has promised not to pursue the death
penalty for extradited suspects in extradition and
repatriation treaties with Western countries. Jiang praised
China for its contributions to international anti-corruption
efforts.

Indian Official Refused Chinese Visa
--------------


10. China hopes border issues with India can be solved at an
early date, but until then such issues should not be brought
into friendly exchanges, said Jiang when asked about the
denial of a Chinese visa to an Indian government official
from the disputed region of Arunachal Pradesh. The refused
individual was to take part in a two-week training program
for a group of Indian officials in Beijing.

Guangxi Riots, Human Rights
--------------


11. Asked about riots in Guangxi and supposed discontent
over family planning laws and poor health care in the region,
the spokesperson called the issue an internal affair of China
before maintaining that the laws and Constitution of China
protect the freedoms and rights of the Chinese people.

1999 Bombing of Embassy in Belgrade
--------------


12. Asked by an AFP reporter what China's position was on
the United States' 1999 bombing of the Chinese Embassy in
Belgrade, the spokesperson stated that China does not accept
the explanation that the bombing was an accident.

Announcements
--------------


13. Indonesian Vice President Muhammad Yusuf Kalla will
visit China June 6-10 at the invitation of VP Zeng Qinghong.
At the invitation of ROK FM Song Min-soon, FM Yang will
attend a meeting of Japan, ROK and China Foreign Ministers on
June 3 in Jeju, then will travel to Seoul for the Sixth Asia
Cooperation Dialogue Foreign Ministers meeting June 4-6.
PICCUTA