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