JANUARY 30 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SIX-PARTY TALKS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000718 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM TSPA CH KN XA SU TX LO SUBJECT: JANUARY 30 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SIX-PARTY TALKS, U.S.-DPRK FINANCIAL TALKS, ANTI-SATELLITE MISSILE TEST, HU'S TRIP TO AFRICA, DARFUR, SLOVAK PM TO CHINA, TURKMENISTAN INAUGURATION ¶1. Key points made at the January 30 MFA press conference were: -- The third phase of the fifth round of Six-Party Talks will begin on February 8. The Talks will focus on implementation of the Joint Statement and how to promote progress. Progress made will determine the Talks' duration. -- China is not a participant in financial talks between the United States and the DPRK held January 30 in Beijing. -- China hopes to sign international agreements to prevent the weaponization of space and plans to send a representative to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space meeting February 12-13 in Vienna. -- President Hu's trip to Africa seeks to promote joint development, not economic colonization. China remains concerned about Darfur, the Spokesperson said in response to calls by the NGO Human Rights Watch for China to limit arms sales to Sudan. -- Prime Minister Fico of the Slovak Republic will visit China February 5-9. -- China has not been invited to the February 14 inauguration of Turkmenistan's new President. Six-Party Talks -------------- ¶2. MFA Spokesperson Jiang Yu announced at the January 30 regular press briefing that the third phase of the fifth round of Six-Party Talks would begin on February 8. The duration of the Talks will depend on progress made during negotiations. Jiang said discussions will focus on how to promote progress of the Talks and on implementation of the September 19 Joint Statement. Asked if a proposal drafted by the United States and ROK on implementing the Joint Statement would be considered, Jiang replied that specific questions concerning the goals of implementing the Joint Statement and improving the implementation mechanism are best discussed by the parties. China Unaware of US-DPRK Financial Talks on 1/29 -------------- --- ¶3. Jiang said China is not a participant in financial talks which began today in Beijing between the United States and the DPRK. She deflected a question asking whether a lack of progress in financial talks would affect resumption of the Six-Party Talks and commented only on the progress hoped for in the upcoming round of negotiations. �00A; China Hopes to Sign Space Treaty -------------- ¶4. Jiang was asked to clarify the purpose of China's recent anti-satellite missile test and confirm if it would be discussed during EAP Assistant Secretary Hill's visit to Beijing. She restated China's position of upholding the peaceful exploration of space, opposing the weaponization of space and refusing to participate in a space arms race. China hopes to sign related international documents to prevent the weaponization of space, seeing this as the "best way," she said. China, Russia and others have produced working documents on this topic and China hopes to make joint efforts with other relevant parties to realize this goal through a binding agreement. She confirmed that China will send a representative to the UN Committee on the Peaceful Use of Outer Space meeting February 12-13 in Vienna. She deflected questions about risks caused by the space debris left from the test. Africa's Friend, Not Economic Colonizer -------------- ¶5. Responding to an al-Jazeera reporter who asked what China has to gain from President Hu's visit to Africa, Jiang said President Hu will promote friendly, practical cooperation and joint development. In response to a western reporter's charge that China is undertaking economic colonization of Africa, Jiang held that China and Africa know best the BEIJING 00000718 002 OF 002 effects of colonialism. China-Africa cooperation began not with recent energy exports, but over a half century ago. The two are engaged in the common task of joint development based on equality, mutual benefit and transparency unrelated to the interests of third parties. HRW Letter to Hu on Darfur -------------- ¶6. Reporters asked Jiang to comment on a Human Rights Watch letter to President Hu calling for targeted PRC sanctions on Sudan and better oversight of Chinese weapons use in the country. She reiterated that China follows the Darfur issue very closely while maintaining dialogue with all relevant parties. China hopes the issue is solved through political negotiation and is pleased by recent progress. China only sells arms to sovereign national governments, requires that buyers do not transfer the weapons to third parties without Chinese consent and abides by all UN regulations, she said. No Info on USS Nimitz Model, Canada Fugitive -------------- ¶7. The Spokesperson had no information regarding reports that a full-scale model of the U.S.S. Nimitz has been completed by China. Asked for comment on China's demands that Canada repatriate Gao Shan, a Bank of China clerk from northeast China who reportedly stole US$129 million and fled to Canada in 2005, Jiang said she was unaware of the case. Visits: Slovak PM, Turkmenistan Inauguration -------------- ¶8. Jiang announced that Prime Minister Robert Fico of the Slovak Republic will visit China February 5-9 at the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao. When asked whether China was sending a representative to the new Turkmenistan President's inauguration on February 14, Jiang replied that Beijing had not received an invitation. RANDT