JULY 2 MFA PRESS BREIFING: WU DAWEI, G-8, GREEN DAM,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001838 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PARM ECIN CH JA KN KS ZI RS IT TW SUBJECT: JULY 2 MFA PRESS BREIFING: WU DAWEI, G-8, GREEN DAM, YONAGUNI, ZIMBABWE ¶1. Key points at the July 2 MFA press briefing: -- Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei began his visit to Russia, the United States, Japan and South Korea on July 2, and will "exchange views with relevant parties" on the situation on the Korean Peninsula as well as issues relating to Northeast Asia. -- President Hu plans to exchange views on strengthening international cooperation to address the financial crisis, as well as reform of the international financial and currency systems at the upcoming G-8 summit in Italy July 8-10. -- In light of reports that Japan is deploying troops to Yonaguni, China hopes that any action by Japan "will contribute to peace and stability." -- China's financial institutions are currently discussing additional project financing for Zimbabwe, and will likely approve additional loans to the country. Wu Dawei's Trip -------------- ¶2. Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei began his visit to Russia, the United States, Japan and South Korea today, announced Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Qin Gang at the July 2 regularly scheduled press briefing. During the trip, Wu will "exchange views with relevant parties" on the situation on the Korean Peninsula as well as issues relating to Northeast Asia, added Qin. Wu's exact itinerary will depend on his consultations, Qin explained. China continues to "maintain communication" with relevant parties, noted Qin, and believes that denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula can only be achieved through "dialogue and consultation" within the framework of the Six-Party Talks. ¶3. When asked whether or not Wu planned to meet with the U.S. Coordinator for Implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1874 Philip Goldberg during his current trip to China, Qin replied that Ambassador Goldberg would be meeting with MFA officials. Green Dam -------------- ¶4. When asked if he believed that children in China were endangered by the delayed implementation of the Green Dam filtering software, Qin replied that he had said "all he needed to say" about this issue, that "competent authorities had made remarks," and that he "had nothing to add." Reserve Currency at G-8? -------------- ¶5. President Hu plans to exchange views on strengthening international cooperation to address the financial crisis, as well as reform of the international financial and currency systems, said Qin when asked whether or not President Hu would raise the issue of replacing the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency at the upcoming G-8 summit in Italy July 8-10. He added that China has "already made clear" its position on this specific issue, and that countries should focus on areas of consensus as well as implementing the recommendations issued at the G-8 summit last year. Troops to Yonaguni -------------- ¶6. China hopes that any action by Japan "will contribute to peace and stability," maintained Qin Gang when asked to comment on reports that Japan was deploying troops to Yonaguni, an island close to a disputed group of islets known as Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese. Loans to Zimbabwe -------------- ¶7. When asked to comment on reports that China has agreed to provide a total of USD 950 million in loans to Zimbabwe, Qin responded that China has provided assistance to Zimbabwe in the past, and that China's financial institutions were currently discussing additional project financing for the country. China would expect "early results" from this cooperation, maintained Qin. Taiwan -------------- ¶8. China adheres to the One China policy, the Five Principles for Peaceful Coexistence, as well as relevant UN resolutions to develop "normal relations" with countries worldwide, replied Qin when asked BEIJING 00001838 002 OF 002 whether or not China planned to open economic and trade offices in countries that maintained diplomatic relations with Taiwan. GOLDBERG