DECEMBER 27 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: PM FUKUDA VISIT, EAST CHINA

UNCLAS BEIJING 007634 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM CH KS KN RS JA IN SUBJECT: DECEMBER 27 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: PM FUKUDA VISIT, EAST CHINA SEA, SIX-PARTY TALKS, CHINA-INDIA CT COOPERATION, CHINA'S DIPLOMACY IN 2007 ¶1. Key points at the December 27 MFA Press Briefing: -- China extends a warm welcome to FM Fukuda, scheduled to arrive in China December 27. -- The spokesman said that the majority of DPRK nuclear disablement will be completed by the end of the year and that China hopes all sides will follow the principle of action-for-action and will take comprehensive and balanced efforts in the second phase. -- The East China Sea issue should be addressed in high level consultations and the Chinese side hopes that the Japanese Government will meet them "halfway." -- China-India joint counterterrorism exercises are focusing on combating "non-traditional security factors." -- The spokesman, noting FM Yang's comments in the December 24 edition of the People's Daily (Renmin Ribao) reviewing China's diplomatic work over the past year, said China's 2007 diplomacy has played a constructive role and has promoted "world peace and stability" and "China's national interests." PM Fukuda's Visit -------------- ¶2. At the December 27, 2007 regular MFA press briefing, spokesman Qin Gang extended China's warm welcome to Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda who was to arrive in China later that afternoon. Qin said that the Chinese side attaches great importance to the visit and hopes to exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of common interest to keep up the momentum of improving bilateral ties. ¶3. Qin also confirmed that the Chinese side plans to discuss the Six-Party Talks and DPRK nuclear disablement with Fukuda. The talks will be aimed at strengthening cooperation on the issue. Qin said that the Chinese side hopes that the Six-Party process will help lead to normalization of relations between "some countries." China hopes that all parties will follow the principle of action-for-action. East hina Sea: Need for High Level Consultations -------------- --- ¶4. The spokeman admitted that Japan and Cina have some differences on the issue of theEast China Sea but said that the leaders of the two countries hope to solve the issue at an early date. Qin said that the two sides agreed that the issue should be addressed in high level consultations and that the Chinese side hopes that the Japanese Government will meet them "halfway." When asked about the possibility of the two sides signing a document on the East China Sea, Qin replied that it was too early to announce whether any documents would be signed during the visit. Six-Party Talks: Majority of Disablement by Year's End -------------- -------------- ¶5. Qin said that the Six-Party talks are making constant progress and that the Yongbyon nuclear facility has been shut down, when asked about China's position on the Six-Party Talks and whether the U.S. demands were too high. Qin said that the majority of disablement will be completed by the end of the year and that China hopes that all sides will follow the principle of action-for-action and will take comprehensive and balanced efforts in the second phase. Qin said that the Joint Statement was very clear that the material should be both secured and stored in line with international practice. China-India Joint Counterterrorism Exercises -------------- ¶6. China and India conducted joint counterterrorism exercises this month for the purpose of building trust and security cooperation "especially in terms of combating non-traditional security factors," Qin told reporters. The two countries are important neighbors in Asia and China welcomes India's suggestions for improvement in the hope of institutionalizing such activities, he added. FM Yang in RMRB Describes China's Diplomacy in 2007 -------------- -------------- ¶7. Noting FM Yang's interview in the December 24 edition of the People's Daily (Renmin Ribao),Qin stated China's diplomatic work has played a constructive role in 2007 and has promoted "world peace and stability" and "China's national interests," stated Qin. RANDT