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.

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

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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