NOVEMBER 1 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DALAI LAMA, BURMA,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 006937 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM CH KN KS CA IR SUBJECT: NOVEMBER 1 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DALAI LAMA, BURMA, SIX-PARTY TALKS, IRAN, TIBETAN REFUGEES, GATES VISIT ¶1. Key points at the November 1 MFA Press Briefing: -- Countries that meet with the Dalai Lama have been deceived or wish to meddle in the internal affairs of China. Seeking to undermine China's policy of peaceful development in Tibet is doomed to failure. -- China hopes the relevant parties in Burma will show restraint and hold dialogue to realize national reconciliation. China supports UN Special Envoy Gambari's mediation efforts. -- VFM Wu Dawei met separately with A/S Chris Hill and Kim Kye-Gwan to discuss the next phase of work in the Six-Party Talks. -- The P5 plus 1 will meet in London on November 2 to discuss Iran. China supports a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear issue achieved through negotiation. -- China denies allegations that Chinese police shot at Tibetan refugees fleeing for Nepal on October 18. -- VISITS: U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will visit China November 4-6. He will hold consultations on regional and international security. China hopes that the visit, a "big military event," will improve mutual understanding and trust. At the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa will visit China November 8-11. Tibet and the Dalai Lama -------------- ¶2. At the November 1 regular MFA press briefing, MFA Spokesman Liu Jianchao said other countries' meetings with the Dalai Lama are "hard to understand." These meetings take place either because the countries have been deceived by the Dalai Lama or because they wish to meddle in China's internal affairs. Such meddling will not change anything, he said. Liu said the Chinese government adheres to a policy of building a harmonious and prosperous Tibet and that there are rumors that some anti-Chinese forces seek to undermine Tibetan development. Such efforts are "doomed to failure." Concerning the Pope's plan to meet with the Dalai Lama in December, Liu expressed hope that the Vatican would not "hurt the feelings of the Chinese people," and would take steps to improve its relationship with China. Asked for specifics of how meetings with the Dalai Lama had hurt the relationships between China and other countries, including the United States, Liu responded that such meetings "deeply harm the image of the relevant countries in the hearts of the Chinese people." Burma and Gambari -------------- ¶3. Asked about Chinese pressure on Burma and the upcoming Burma trip of UN Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari, Liu said China has normal relations with Burma and hopes that the relevant parties exercise restraint and hold dialogue to solve problems and realize national reconciliation. Gambari will go to Burma on November 3. China supports Gambari's mediation efforts and hopes they produce positive result. Update on Six Party Talks -------------- ¶4. Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei met separately with both U.S. Assistant Secretary Chris Hill and North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye-Gwan to exchange ideas on the next phase work of the Six-Party Talks. A team of U.S. experts has already gone to North Korea to work on disablement of nuclear facilities. The third meeting of the Economic and Energy Cooperation Working Group convened in the Republic of Korea and a delegation from the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended. China hopes that all parties "implement their commitments in earnest to implement actions for the second phase in a comprehensive and balanced manner." BEIJING 00006937 002 OF 002 Iran -------------- ¶5. Asked about the November 2 P5 plus 1 Political Directors' meeting on Iran in London, Liu said that China upholds the principles of nonproliferation and supports diplomatic negotiations to resolve the issue peacefully. China has actively participated in the UN and in other meetings on Iran. Six countries will meet in London November 2. The Chinese representative will be MFA Director General of the Department of Arms Control Zhang Yan. China hopes all relevant parties will make efforts for a peaceful solution through negotiation and supports consultations between Iran and the IAEA and between Iran and the EU-3. China: Not Shooting Fleeing Refugees -------------- ¶6. Asked about allegations made by an American NGO, the International Campaign for Tibet, that Chinese police had shot at Tibetan refugees attempting to flee to Nepal on October 18, Liu said that he had checked with the relevant authorities, who confirmed that the allegations are groundless and fabricated. Visits -------------- ¶7. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will visit China November 4-6, during which time he will hold consultations and dialogue on matters related to regional and international security. China hopes the visit, a "big military event," will improve mutual understanding and trust. At the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao, Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa will visit China November 8-11. Randt