MAY 20 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SICHUAN EARTHQUAKE, SIX-PARTY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001955 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KOLY KS GM RS IR TW SUBJECT: MAY 20 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SICHUAN EARTHQUAKE, SIX-PARTY TALKS, TAIWAN, GERMANY AND DALAI LAMA, IRAN NUCLEAR PROPOSALS, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VISIT ¶1. Key points at the May 20 MFA press briefing were: -- China is grateful for foreign assistance and condolences. -- The Six-Party Talks have maintained momentum and China hopes recent meetings will produce results. -- Taiwan is "ineligible" for observer status at the World Health Assembly. -- Germany should honor its commitments and not send the Dalai Lama any "wrong signals." -- The spokesperson was not authorized to release information on Iranian nuclear proposals. Gratitude for International Assistance -------------- ¶2. At the May 20, 2008 regular MFA press briefing, MFA Spokesman Qin Gang expressed the "gratitude of the Chinese people and government" for the international assistance and condolences following the earthquake which struck Sichuan Province May 12. Qin said that 166 countries and over 30 international groups have expressed "solicitude" over the disaster. In addition, rescue teams from the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Russia and Japan took part in the rescue work. China will also allow medical teams from Germany, Italy, Russia and Japan to assist in Sichuan. Other countries have expressed their desire to send teams and the China Red Cross will make the decision on what help is needed when. Qin said requests to help would be viewed positively, but transportation and communication issues make accepting the teams difficult. Qin said the rescue teams exhibited professionalism and worked in spite of dangerous conditions. China is still asking for tents and medications. China has been greatly moved by the responses of foreign governments and civil organizations to its requests for help, said Qin. Six Party Talks Maintain Momentum -------------- ¶3. In response to a journalisQ question on reported meetings between negotiators, Qin said the Six-Party Talks have "maintained momentum" and relevant parties had maintained contact. China hopes recent meetings will "produce positive results." Taiwan Ineligible for WHA -------------- ¶4. Regarding granting observer status for Taiwan at the World Health Assembly (WHA),Qin said Taiwan is ineligible under the WHA's own rules. China attaches great importance to the health of its "Taiwan compatriots." Under a "technical exchange" Memorandum of Understanding, 15 Taiwan groups have already participated in 27 WHO "technical activities." Qin emphasized that "there is only one China in the world and both the Mainland and Taiwan belong to the same China." Qin referred questions about Ma Ying-jeou's inaugural speech to the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office. No Wrong Signals to Dalai Lama -------------- ¶5. Asked about the Dalai Lama's activities in Germany, Qin reiterated China's "persistent and clear" opposition to any country, groups or individuals using the Dalai Lama to interfere in China's internal affairs. Qin noted that "with joint efforts" the Germany-China relationship is "gradually" getting back on track. Germany has made commitments to the one China policy and China hopes that Germany will honor these commitments and not send any wrong signals to the Dalai Lama in order to "ensure the sound development of China-Germany relations." No Information on Iran Nuclear Proposal -------------- ¶6. Qin said he was not authorized to release any information on the Iranian nuclear proposals, but that information would probably be released soon. China wants a peaceful solution to the issue, said Qin. Visits -------------- ¶7. Qin gave details of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's schedule while in China. Medvedev will meet with President Hu Jintao on the afternoon of May 23 after which there will be a press conference. On the morning of May 24, Medvedev will meet with Premier Wen Jiabao BEIJING 00001955 002 OF 002 and National People's Congress Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo. In the afternoon he will meet with CPPCC Chairman JiaQglin and deliver a speech at Peking University. Qin also announced that Maldives Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid will visit China May 23-27. RANDT