JULY 24 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: Nepal, Six-Party Talks,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002876 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KOLY CH RS NP SUBJECT: JULY 24 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: Nepal, Six-Party Talks, Olympics, Visas. ¶1. Key points at the July 24 MFA Press Briefing: -- China rejects the accusation that it pressured the Government of Nepal to arrest Tibetan protestors. -- Much progress has been made towards the denuclearization of North Korea. All parties involved laud China's positive efforts in the Six-Party Talks. A formal Ministerial meeting will be held in Beijing "once the time is mature." -- More than 80 dignitaries will attend the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games. Invitations to the event are extended by the respective National Olympic Committees, and not by the Chinese Government. -- For the sake of pre-Olympics security, China has adjusted its visa policies. These adjustments will not affect travelers coming to China for normal business, however. -- China is still studying the draft safeguards presented to the IAEA regarding the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal. -- China has will appoint a new ambassador to ASEAN, but it is not yet confirmed who the new ambassador will be. -- A resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives regarding China's human rights situation and interactions with the Government of Sudan is interference in China's internal affairs and is "against the Olympic Games." -- VISITS: At the invitation of Vice-Premier Wang Qishan, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Ivanovich Sechin will visit China July 26-27, for discussions on Sino-Russian energy cooperation. Nepal and Tibetan Protesters -------------- ¶2. China rejects the accusation that it has pressured the Nepalese Government to arrest Tibetan protesters in Nepal and that China's Ambassador to Nepal has made multiple representations to the Nepalese Government requesting such arrests, MFA Spokesman Liu Jianchao said at the regular bi-weekly MFA press conference July 24. Nepal is a friendly neighboring country, and China does not pressure its friendly neighbors, Liu said. Regarding Tibet, he added that China will not allow any actions that harm its interests, nor will its friendly neighbors allow any such actions within their territory. China will also not allow the separation of Tibet or any attacks on its diplomatic missions abroad, and China supports some countries taking necessary actions to prevent such incidents. Six-Party Talks -------------- ¶3. The spokesman was unable to comment on the recent informal Six-Party Talks ministerial held on the margins of the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting in Singapore, as he had no heard the reports. Asked if China's policies towards North Korea and denuclearization are a failure, Liu responded that the policies are not a failure and that all Six Parties "realized consensus" that there has been much progress in promoting denuclearization. All parties reconfirmed their willingness to honor their commitments, and all parties applaud the positive role that China has played in the Six-Party Talks. In response to a follow up on the possibility of an formal Six-Party Ministerial meeting, Liu noted that the informal meeting in Singapore was historic, as the Foreign Ministers of all six nations had not met before. A formal Ministerial will be held in Beijing "once the time is mature," but more consultations are necessary. Olympics -------------- ¶4. Regarding dignitaries invited to the Olympics, Liu said that heads of state and government and ministers of sports are invited by their relevant national Olympic Committees and not by the Chinese Government. More than 80 such dignitaries are expected to attend. On follow-up, Liu said that China would welcome a potential bilateral meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda, if Fukuda is interested. China is "studying the possibility" of holding bilateral meetings with other world leaders as well. ¶5. Asked to confirm that five Olympic cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, are no longer issuing letters of invitation to business travelers during the Olympics, Liu responded that in advance of the Olympics China is working to strengthen its security, and as such has adjusted its visa policies. These adjustments will not affect foreigners coming to China for normal work, but the new applications procedures are more complicated and will take more time, he said. BEIJING 00002876 002 OF 002 ¶6. Asked about rumors that 500 Tibetans were caught after infiltrating the ranks of Olympics volunteers, Liu said that he had not heard of it. He added that some foreign journalists make up news that does not exist, and while the Chinese Government denies such rumors, journalists do not heed its concerns. Such behavior is unethical, and these journalists should be condemned and their reputations ruined, he said. ¶7. Asked two questions regarding the establishment of protest parks for use during the Olympics and the process by which said protests will be approved, the spokesperson twice referred the questioner to the State Council's Protest and Demonstration Law. Chinese views on U.S.-India nuclear agreement -------------- ¶8. Asked if China, in its position as a member of both the IAEA and the Nuclear Suppliers Group, would support the U.S.-India nuclear agreement, Liu responded that China is still studying the draft safeguards between India and the IAEA. ASEAN Ambassador -------------- ¶9. China has recently appointed an ambassador to ASEAN, which is another sign of the progress of Sino-ASEAN relations, Liu said. The mission of the ambassador will be to further improve the strategic partnership of cooperation that already exists. It is not yet confirmed who the new ambassador will be. U.S. House of Representatives Resolution on Sudan -------------- -------------- ¶10. Asked a question regarding a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives calling on China to address human rights abuses and stop supporting the Government of Sudan, Liu responded that such a resolution is "against the Olympic Games" as well as against the shared aspirations of all those who oppose the politicization of the Olympics. He noted that the resolution is also interference in China's internal affairs. Kunming bombing, Sino-Japan Cooperation -------------- ¶11. Asked for additional information on the recent bus bombings in Kunming, Yunnan Province, the spokesman responded that the incident is still under investigation, and the police in Kunming are providing updates to the media there. ¶12. Sino-Japanese cooperation in the field of earthquake prevention is important, as both countries are earthquake-prone, Liu said. This was a topic which Hu Jintao discussed during the G-8 meeting, he said. The Japanese provided large amounts of support following the Sichuan earthquake, for which the Chinese people express their heartfelt thanks to the Japanese Government and people. Visit: Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sechin -------------- ¶13. VISITS: At the invitation of Vice-Premier Wang Qishan, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Ivanovich Sechin will visit China July 26-27, for discussions on Sino-Russian energy Cooperation. RANDT