DECEMBER 6 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SIX-PARTY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 007383

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM CH
SUBJECT: DECEMBER 6 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SIX-PARTY
TALKS, NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE (NIE) ON IRAN,
UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE, CHINA-JAPAN RELATIONS,
AFRICA INVESTMENT, DALAI LAMA


1. Key points at the December 6 MFA Press Briefing:

-- China believes the date for the next round of Six-
Party Talks must be reached by consensus.

-- China will "earnestly study" the NIE on Iran with
relevant parties so as to push forward the proper
settlement of the issue.

-- On climate change, China believes countries should
not break away from the framework established by the
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the
Kyoto Protocol.

-- The PRC is willing to work together with Japan to
keep and push forward the good momentum of improvement
and development of bilateral relations.

-- China welcomes some Western countries' recent
remarks indicating that they intend to strengthen
their input in Africa.

-- The PRC views the Dalai Lama as a "splittist"
intent on separating the Motherland.

Six-Party Talks
--------------


2. Responding to questions regarding Assistant
Secretary Christopher Hill's visit to Beijing and the

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future of the Six-Party talks, Qin confirmed that A/S
Hill met with Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei on the
morning of December 6 and exchanged views on the
current situation and the next stage of work for the
Six-Party Talks process. VFM Wu took note of A/S
Hill's recount of his visit to the DPRK and his
relevant remarks. China hopes that the six parties
will maintain cooperation and consultation in order to
maintain a good momentum, so as to push forward the
relevant work on the denuclearization of the Korean
Peninsula as scheduled.


3. Another reporter commented that A/S Hill had said
he did not know why the Six-Party Talks had been
delayed and asked whether the PRC knew the reason for
the delay. Qin responded that the six parties are
conducting consultations on the exact date for the
next Heads of Delegation meeting. He added that the
next meeting was not up to the will of any one party,
but would be a consensus reached by the six parties.
The relevant parties should "cherish and maintain" the
good momentum so as to implement the consensus reached
in a all-around and balanced way in order to realiz
the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

National Intelligence Estimate on Iran: PRC Response
-------------- --------------


4. On China's response to the recently-released U.S.
National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran, Qin said
that he had addressed the issue during the December 4
regular press briefing and did not wish to complicate
the matter. He said China is willing to work together
with other parties to strengthen communications and
consultations for a peaceful settlement to the Iranian
nuclear issue through negotiations.


5. China's position on the Iranian nuclear issue is
that China supports the international nuclear non-
proliferation regime, opposes the proliferation of
nuclear weapons and upholds a peaceful and stable
Middle East, and, as a result, upholds a peaceful
settlement of the issue through consultations. Any
move taken by the UN Security Council on the Iranian
nuclear issue should be conducive to realize these
goals. China will adopt a positive and constructive
attitude to take part in relevant discussions. As to
the NIE, China will "earnestly study" the report and
communications with relevant parties so as to push
forward the proper settlement of the issue.

PRC Views on the UN Climate Change Conference
--------------


6. Responding to a question regarding China's views of
the Climate Change conference in Bali and the
proposals put forth by Canada, Japan and the United
States, Qin said that the Chinese delegation is taking
a constructive and positive view in its attendance at
the conference. The relevant parties have exchanged

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views on how to handle climate change, especially on
goals for emissions reductions after 2012. China
believes under current circumstances, countries should
not break away from the framework established by the
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and
the Kyoto Protocol, and should not abandon the common
but differentiated responsibilities that are
principles in those agreements.


7. Nations should make due efforts to combat climate
change based on their different development levels,
national conditions and capabilities, Qin continued.
In particular, developed countries should take the
lead in emissions reductions and provide more capital
and technological support to developing countries so
as to help them raise their capability to handle
climate change. Developing countries should take an
active part in the process, based on their own
development levels. For its part, China will make its
due effort to strengthen international cooperation
based on its own conditions and strategic development
strategies. China will hold an open attitude to any
move or proposal that is conducive to promoting the
principles put forth in the UNFCCC and the Kyoto
Protocol as well as the principle of common but
differentiated responsibility.

China-Japan Relations
--------------


8. Asked why President Hu Jintao did not raise any
"sensitive" issues in bilateral relations with Japan
during the recent China-Japan Senior Economic Dialogue,
but instead stated his hope that Japan would express
opposition to Taiwanese referendum on UN membership,
Qin said the Chinese government is willing to work
together with Japan to keep and push forward the good
momentum of improvement and development of bilateral
relations. The most important issue is to follow the
principle of mutual respect and mutual benefit, to
take into consideration each other's concerns and to
properly settle major issues including historical
issues and the Taiwan issue so as to consolidate a
foundation for political relations. Therefore, the
opposition to Taiwan separatist activities, including
the referendum on UN membership will be conducive to
consolidating the political foundation of bilateral
relations and the sound and rapid development of
bilateral relations.


9. Asked about China-Japan relations in the face of
the upcoming 70th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre,
Qin said that while developing bilateral relations
with Japan, China "has taken history as a mirror and
looks into the future." To remember lessons from
history is to cherish the precious hard-won momentum
of improvement and development so as to create a
better future. As such, China always follows this
guidance to educate the Chinese people to view
bilateral relations with Japan from an objective
prospective. China hopes that Japan will follow this
spirit and make its due efforts to push forward the
development of bilateral relations.

PRC Welcomes More Investment in Africa
--------------


10. The Chinese government highly values Africa and
its solidarity and cooperation with Africa, which is
based on mutual respect and benefit and is conducive
to the peace, stability and common development of
Africa and the world at large. It is not targeted at
any other third parties. China has taken note of and
welcomes some Western countries' recent remarks
indicating that they intend to strengthen their input
in Africa. China and other countries share common
interests in Africa, and as such, China is willing to
strengthen dialogue, cooperation and exchanges with
those countries. If countries increase their input in
Africa just because of China that is a good thing, if
the whole international community could work together
to make contributions for poverty alleviation and
stable development and the benefit of the African
people China would be happy to see that.

Dalai Lama Visits Italy
--------------


11. Responding to an inquiry regarding the Dalai
Lama's trip to Italy, Qin said that the Dalai Lama is

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not a purely religious figure, but is a political
exile engaged in activities intended to split China.
His issues are not ones of culture or religion, but of
China's territorial integrity and the separation or
"anti-separation" of the Motherland. No matter how or
where the Dalai Lama conducts his activities, it is
not in an individual or religious capacity. Rather, he
represents separatist forces aimed at splitting China
and advocating Tibetan independence. Qin said China
hopes that relevant countries will be clearly aware of
these attempts at separatism and not provide venues or
support for these activities.


12. In a follow-on question the reporter asked for
examples of the Dalai Lama's "splittist" activities.
Qin suggested that the reporter review the Dalai
Lama's activities, deeds and words since fleeing China.
He has never given up his attempts to separate China
and is still actively engaged in separatist activities.
Qin said these words and deeds are very common and
believes that there are many cases to which the
reporter could refer. Qin added that the Dalai Lama
continues to maintain an exile government.

RANDT