OCTOBER 25 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: GAMBARI VISIT, J-10

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 006844 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM CH BM IR RS JA SU TU IZ PK IS, SN, IN, UZ, TX, BO SUBJECT: OCTOBER 25 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: GAMBARI VISIT, J-10 FIGHTER SALES, DALAI LAMA, CHINESE OIL FIELD IN SUDAN UNDER SIEGE, PEACEFUL USE OF OUTER SPACE, UPCOMING SCO PRIME MINISTERS' MEETING ¶1. Key points at the October 25 MFA Press Briefing: -- UN Special Envoy Gambari met with Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi and State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan on October 24-25. -- China has taken note of the "untrue and groundless" reports in the Russian media that China sold J-10 fighter planes to Iran. -- China will not meet with the Dalai Lama because his desire to attain Tibetan independence has never ceased. China hopes the Dalai Lama can match his words with deeds and take a correct position on the issue of Tibetan independence. -- China has noted reports that a Chinese oil field in Sudan has been surrounded by rebels and hopes that the relevant parties in Sudan take appropriate measures to ensure the lives and property of Chinese in Sudan. -- China views outer space as the commonwealth of all humanity and believes it must be used peacefully for the benefit of all humankind. -- Premier Wen Jiabao will attend the Sixth Prime Ministers' Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and make official visits to Turkmenistan, Belorussia and Russia November 2-6. UN Special Envoy Meets Three PRC Leaders -------------- ¶2. At the October 25 regular MFA press briefing, MFA Spokesman Liu Jianchao confirmed that UN Burma Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari met Assistant Foreign Minister (AFM) He Yafei, Vice Foreign Minister (VFM) Wang Yi and State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan October 24-25. Liu said AFM He told Gambari that China closely follows the situation in Burma and China calls upon concerned parties to exercise restraint and to handle the issues properly to promote democracy and development. AFM He also told Gambari that Burma has a complicated history and the situation there needs to be resolved by the government and the people. The international community should remain fair and objective and do more to promote dialogue. AFM He also told Gambari that China supports the mediation efforts of the UN Secretary General and Gambari. VFM Wang Yi told Gambari that China hopes the relevant parties properly handle the issues and devote themselves to peace and stability for Burma. Gambari told VFM Wang and AFM He details of his other meetings in Asia and expressed his appreciation for China's support of the mediation efforts. Liu said he did not have any information on Gambari's meeting with State Councilor Tang. ¶3. Asked why Gambari had not met with higher-level officials, Liu said the form of the consultations did not matter as much as the content. He said China attaches great importance to the mediation efforts of Secretary General Ban and Gambari. He said the three key PRC officials held in-depth, candid discussions with Gambari during his visit and China believes the talks will be helpful for the mediation efforts. (See also remarks on Burma and Singapore in paragraph 14 below.) Reports of J-10 Fighter Sales to Iran False -------------- ¶4. Liu said China had noted reports in the Russian media that China had sold J-10 fighter planes to Iran. Liu said these reports were untrue and China has not sold or discussed selling J-10 fighters with Iran. China hopes the Russian media will correct this report and report the truth. No Details on Possibly Detained Tibetan Monks -------------- ¶5. Liu said he had not heard of accusations that Tibetan monks who had celebrated the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to the Dalai Lama had been detained. Liu referred reporters to the relevant Public Security authorities. BEIJING 00006844 002 OF 003 Timing for PRC Meetings with the Dalai Lama? -------------- ¶6. Asked when the PRC would be willing to meet with the Dalai Lama, given that the Dalai Lama has publicly stated that he does not support Tibetan independence and that Deng Xiaoping had once stated that the PRC would meet with him if he abandoned the cause, Liu said China focuses on the "principle" of the situation while the reporter was focusing on the "details." Liu said the "separatist activist" Dalai Lama's desire for Tibetan independence has never stopped. China hopes the Dalai Lama can match his words with deeds and take a correct position on the issue of Tibetan independence. Threat Against Chinese Oil Field in Sudan -------------- ¶7. Liu said China had noted reports that a Chinese oil field in Sudan had been surrounded by reels and hopes that the relevant parties in Sudan take appropriate measures to ensure the livs and property of Chinese in Sudan. He added that, as far as he knew, Chinese in Sudan were currently safe. No Action on Turkey/PKK Issue -------------- ¶8. China is closely following the situation between Turkey and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and hopes the relevant parties can resolve the issue through dialogue and consultation. China hopes the region can remain stable and peaceful, Liu said. External Pressure on Human Rights Efforts Won't Work -------------- -------------- ¶9. Responding to a question stating that some in the United States were using the upcoming Olympic Games to push for improvements in China's human rights record, Liu said China does not need external pressure on the human rights issue and that external pressure will not produce any results. He said China protects and develops the human rights of its citizens at all times and will continue to do so. UN Death Penalty Ban -------------- ¶10. Responding to a question regarding an effort by the UN to ban the death penalty, Liu said he had described China's position on the death penalty many times and added that China has adopted an "extremely prudent" attitude and has taken very serious measures over the past two years. He said that different countries have different national conditions that dictate the specific measures they take on the death penalty. Peaceful Use of Outer Space -------------- ¶11. Liu said China views outer space as the commonwealth of all humanity and believes it must be used peacefully for the benefit of all humankind. He said that China believes the October 24 launch of the Chang-E 1 lunar orbiter represents an important step for the international community. Liu said he would research an answer regarding China's participation in the UN agreement on the peaceful use of the moon. Reaction to the Suicide Bombing in Pakistan -------------- ¶12. China strongly condemns the recent suicide bombing in Pakistan and sincerely hopes Pakistan can maintain peace and stability, which serves the fundamental interests of the Pakistani people, Liu said. He added that China will continue to develop a strategic partnership with Pakistan. Visits -------------- ¶13. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with FM Yang on October 24, Liu said. He said that the two mainly discussed bilateral issues and that he did not know if they BEIJING 00006844 003 OF 003 had discussed the Six-Party Talks. Liu emphasized, however, that China has kept in close communication and consultation with the other five parties to the Talks. The strategic partnership between China and Russia is doing well, Liu said. The two sides enjoy strong mutual trust and fruitfully cooperate in various fields. China hopes concentrated efforts will yield more positive results in fields such as culture and economics. The partnership has entered a new stage over the past year, Liu said, and China hopes to work with its Russian counterparts to press ahead with bilateral relations. ¶14. Liu confirmed that Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo would begin a visit to China on October 26. He said Yeo would meet with FM Yang and the two will discuss bilateral relations and the Burma issue. Liu said China attaches great importance to ASEAN's role on the Burma issue. China hopes the two sides will reach consensus and play a constructive role in helping Burma realize stability, democracy and development. ¶15. Head of the Indian Congress Party Sonia Gandhi is currently in China at the invitation of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP),Liu said. She will meet with government and CCP leaders. China attaches great importance to the visit and hopes it increases understanding between the two parties and the two peoples. ¶16. Liu announced that Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipora Livni would visit China October 28-30. Liu said Livni would hold talks with FM Yang Jiechi on bilateral relations and regional issues of common interest. ¶17. Liu said that Premier Wen Jiabao will attend the Sixth Prime Minister's Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and make official visits to Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Belarus and Russia November 2-6. In Russia he will attend the Twelfth Sino-Russian Prime Ministers regular meeting and the closing ceremony of the Year of China in Russia. Randt