MAY 31 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: A/S HILL IN BEIJING,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003661 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SENV ETRD SU JA IN KS GE SW RS BM SUBJECT: MAY 31 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: A/S HILL IN BEIJING, LEE TENG-HUI TO JAPAN, ANTI-JAPANESE PROTEST, HU TO G-8 AND SWEDEN, WU YI TO RUSSIA, YANG'S TRAVEL, AIRCRAFT SALES TO INDIA, PRESS IN TIBET, EU-IRAN MEETING, ILLEGAL LOGGING ¶1. Key points at the May 31 MFA Press Conference were: -- A/S Hill discussed Six-Party Talks and BDA with VFM Wu Dawei and bilateral issues and Sudan with AFM He Yafei on May ¶30. -- China strongly objects to Lee Teng-hui's visit to Japan. -- Japan should recognize demands for compensation motivating the anti-Japanese protest today at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing. -- President Hu will attend G-8 sessions in Germany and make a state visit to Sweden in early June. -- Vice Premier Wu Yi will head an economic delegation to Russia on June 8-12. FM Yang will attend the ACD meeting and a trilateral FMs meeting in South Korea. -- The spokeswoman dismissed an NGO report on foreign journalists lacking access to Tibet as "irresponsible and groundless." -- She gave general answers to questions on American aircraft sales to India, Iran, illegal logging in Burma and a blue algae outbreak in Taihu Lake. A/S Hill Met With Wu Dawei and He Yafei -------------- ¶2. At the May 31 regular MFA press briefing, spokesperson Jiang Yu confirmed that A/S Hill met with VFM Wu Dawei and AFM He Yafei on May 30. A/S Hill exchanged ideas about the Six-Party Talks and BDA issue with VFM Wu and discussed bilateral issues and Sudan with AFM He. China believes new sanctions against Sudan will only complicate the issue and is appealing to other countries to maintain exchange and dialogue to implement the third phase of the Annan Plan in Sudan, Jiang said. China is ready to promote the development of strategic cooperative partnership between the United States and China, Jiang added. Lee Teng-hui Visiting Japan -------------- ¶3. China is strongly dissatisfied with the Japanese government for allowing former Taiwan leader Lee Teng-hui to enter Japan, Jiang said. She claimed Lee's aim is to undermine China-Japan relations. Regarding Lee's plans to visit the Yasukuni Shrine, Jiang said that mutual effort is needed from both China and Japan to properly handle Taiwan and historical issues. China hopes that Japan seriously considers China's solemn representations and continues to promote joint efforts with China to advance bilateral ties. Anti-Japanese Protest -------------- ¶4. Asked to comment on a protest carried out in front of the Japanese Embassy in Beijing on May 31 by victims and family members of those seeking compensation from the Japanese government, Jiang said that the PRC protested the Supreme Court decision denying compensation earlier this month. Japan should recognize that grave crimes were committed, should properly address the issues and should properly consider the demands and rights of victims and their families. President Hu to Attend G-8 Summit, Visit Sweden -------------- -- ¶5. President Hu Jintao will attend sessions of the G-8 summit in Germany. He is expected to attend meetings along with other developing counties as well as bilateral meetings. More details will be announced at a briefing by AFM Cui Tiankai on June 4. ¶6. President Hu will make a state visit to Sweden on June 8-10 at the invitation of Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf, with whom he will hold talks. Hu will also meet with Prime Minister Reinfeldt and parliament Speaker Westerberg to discuss bilateral ties and to map the future of the two countries' relationship and is expected to sign an environmental protection agreement. BEIJING 00003661 002 OF 002 Vice Premier Wu Yi to Visit Russia -------------- ¶7. Vice Premier Wu Yi will head a delegation to Russia on June 8-12 to attend the 11th Annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. This is the third year in a row that China has sent a delegation to the Forum. Wu will also participate in events affiliated with the ongoing "Year of China in Russia" including meetings with the China-Russia Trade and Investment Cooperative and an official of the World Economic Forum. FM Yang Jiechi to Travel to South Korea -------------- ¶8. PRC Foreign Minister Yang will travel to Seoul on June 3 to attend the Sixth Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) and will also participate in trilateral meetings with foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea. The three sides are expected to discuss bilateral and trilateral issues in addition to international and regional issues of common interest. Jiang said the PRC hopes the talks will raise the level of cooperation among the three countries. American Cargo Plane Sales to India -------------- ¶9. Asked to comment on a report that the United States had announced plans to sell six Lockheed Martin Corp. C-130J cargo planes to India, Jiang said that she had not read the report, but that China hopes for mutual trust in the international community and seeks agreements conducive to peace and stability in the region and in the world. PRC Control of Foreign Media in Tibet -------------- ¶10. A recent report by the NGO Reporters Without Borders on an incident involving two foreign journalists covering Tibet was "irresponsible and groundless," Jiang said. China protects the rights of foreign reporters and as long as they abide by China's rules and regulations their "normal reporting work" will not be restricted. She added that China hopes journalists will abide by the law and report on China without prejudice. EU - Iran Meeting -------------- ¶11. Responding to a question regarding the upcoming meeting between European Union High Representative Solana and Secretary of the Iranian Security Council Larijani, Jiang SIPDIS said China supports diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iran nuclear issue and hopes that this round of talks can get the regular negotiation process going again so the issue can be resolved diplomatically. Efforts to Stem Illegal Logging in Burma -------------- ¶12. Asked if the PRC was doing anything to prevent the trade of illegally logged timber from Burma to China, Jiang said that in China all logging and trade in timber is done in accordance with the law and that the PRC is taking steps to crackdown on illegal logging. She said that illegally logged timber does not cross the border from Burma to China and that both sides are making joint efforts to prevent illegal logging. Blue Algae Threatens Water Supply -------------- ¶13. Jiang characterized the report of a blue-green algae bloom in Taihu Lake, the main source of drinking water for the city of Wuxi in eastern China, as an internal Chinese matter and referred reporters to the relevant authorities. PICCUTA