JANUARY 3 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: India PM visit, China FM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 000020 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM CH SUBJECT: JANUARY 3 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: India PM visit, China FM Africa trip, Pakistan elections, U.S.-China Senior Dialogue, Six-Party Talks ¶1. Key points at the January 3 MFA Press Briefing: -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will visit China January 13-15. -- China hopes all parties in the Six-Party Talks process will honor the commitments they have made. -- Relevant PRC authorities will handle the case of detained activist Hu Jia according to law. -- PRC Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will travel to four countries in Africa January 7-11. -- The Senior Dialogue is an important forum to exchange ideas on cooperation and coordination in various fields. Indian PM Visit -------------- ¶2. At the January 3 regular MFA press briefing, MFA Spokesman Jiang Yu announced that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will visit China January 13-15. Jiang said that China attaches great importance to the visit and hopes that the two countries will improve their friendship and strategic cooperative partnership. Currently, the relations have good momentum as three meetings were held during 2007. Jiang also noted that in 2007, trade and tourism has increased between China and India. Jiang said that China is ready to make joint effort to bring the strategic cooperative partnership "to a new high." ¶3. Regarding the boundary issues, Jiang said that the two countries held three rounds of meetings last year and will make joint efforts to reach a fair and rational settlement acceptable to both parties. Pakistan Elections -------------- ¶4. China respects the decision to postpone elections in Pakistan as an internal affair of Pakistan, Jiang stated. China hopes for a smooth election process and for the continued development of Pakistan. U.S.-China Senior Dialogue Schedule -------------- ¶5. Jiang said that she would share specific information regarding the scheduled Senior Dialogue between the United States and China once she had it. The Dialogue is an important platform to exchange ideas on coordination and cooperation in various fields and to develop peace and regional stability, she said. Six-Party Talks, A/S Hill Visiting Beijing -------------- ¶6. Responding to a request to comment on the DPRK missing the deadline to make a full declaration of its nuclear programs, Jiang said that with the concerted efforts of the parties the second phase of the agreement is underway and that it is "natural" for the pace to be faster in some areas and slower in others. China urges all parties to honor the ommitments they have made, as that will lead to broader prospects for the Six-Party Talks process. ¶7. Jiang said that she had also heard reports regarding a visit to Beijing and the Republic of Korea by EAP Assistant Secretary Christopher Hill during the upcoming weekend, but stated that she had no specific information to share. Hu Jia Detention -------------- ¶8. Asked to comment on European Union Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering's demand for the release of Chinese activist Hu Jia, Jiang said that China is a country with the rule of law and that everyone is equal under the law and no one is above it. Relevant authorities will deal with relevant cases according to law, she said. FM Yang Plans Africa Visit -------------- ¶9. In response to a reporter's question about Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi's planned visit to Congo, Burundi, Ethiopia and South Africa, Jiang said that an important part of China's foreign policy was to consolidate and strengthen the solidarity and cooperation of Africa. The upcoming visit will increase mutually beneficial cooperation and build on the strategic partnerships. During the visit, Yang will visit with the foreign ministers and leaders of the four countries. BEIJING 00000020 002 OF 002 RANDT