JULY 16 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: CHU AND LOCKE VISIT, RIO TINTO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 002025 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MNUC CH AS RS TU SUBJECT: JULY 16 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: CHU AND LOCKE VISIT, RIO TINTO ESPIONAGE CASE, MELBOURNE FILM FESTIVAL, STRATEGIC AND ECONOMIC DIALOGUE, SIX-PARTY TALKS ¶1. Key points at the July 16 MFA press briefing: --China "opposes any country providing a platform" for Uyghur activist Rebiya Kadeer's "separatist activity." --China's position on mandatory caps on greenhouse gas emissions has been "consistent and clear" and China would "follow the principles" of the United Nations Framework and the Kyoto Protocol. --China hopes the United States can make commitments on climate change "in line with its historical responsibilities." --The Rio Tinto case is still under investigation, and China remains "open to cooperation" and welcomes foreign investments as long as there is no "loss" to China. --China "believes dialogue, consultations and peaceful means" to achieve a denuclearized Korean Peninsula were "in the interests of all sides." Xinjiang and the Melbourne Film Festival and Al-Qaeda Threats -------------- -------------- ¶2. "It is very clear what kind of a person Rebiya Kadeer is" and China "opposes any country providing a platform for her separatist activity" Qin said when asked whether it was true that the Chinese Embassy to Australia tried to get a Uyghur film banned from the Melbourne International Film Festival scheduled from July 24 to August 9, 2009. Separately, Qin said he was not in a position to answer questions on how China would handle people detained following the July 5 incident in Xinjiang and referred journalists to "relevant authorities." When asked about threats of retaliation by Al-Qaeda against Chinese nationals in Algeria, Qin said the "Chinese government attached much importance to the safety of Chinese nationals and institutions abroad and would take appropriate measures to safeguard them." Chu and Locke Visit -------------- ¶3. When asked whether U.S. Energy Secretary Stephen Chu and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke's visit to China had any impact on China's approach to mandatory caps on greenhouse gas emissions, MFA Spokesperson Qin Gang replied that "China's position has been consistent and clear" and that China would "follow the principles" of the United Nations Framework and the Kyoto Protocol. China hopes "developed countries will provide capital and support to developing nations." Qin said "developed and developing countries have common but differentiated responsibilities" in the international community to deal with climate change. Secretary Chu and Secretary Locke "exchanged views with relevant authorities" and there were "positive developments" in the U.S. Government's position on climate change, Qin said. China "hopes the United States can make commitments in line with its historical responsibilities." Rio Tinto Espionage Case: "May You be Prosperous" -------------- -------------- ¶4. In response to questions on the Rio Tinto case, Qin said the issue was still "under investigation" and he was unaware of the specifics. The Chinese government advocates "open cooperation" and "welcomes foreign investment," Qin said. Quoting traditional Chinese sayings, Qin said that the message to foreign countries interested in investing in China is "May you be prosperous," but that "a man of noble character acquires wealth by honorable means". Foreign companies operating in China should have "good faith", "good ethics", and not engage in "selfish ways." Rio Tinto and Stern Hu have "caused a loss to China" and were "clear about the pain" this caused. ¶5. Qin said China abides by the the rule of law and the Rio Tinto case will be dealt with in accordance with the law. There are "noises" in Australia on the case, and this is interfering with China's investigation. China opposes anyone "stirring" up issues with the case that will interfere with the "independent judicial authority" of China. "China and Australia are important trading partners," Qin said, and "It is not in Australia's interests to interfere with China's independent judicial authority." Qin belittled a journalist seeking clarification on how China would handle leaks to the media of other information possibly construed as BEIJING 00002025 002 OF 003 "state secrets" such as GDP data by stating that he "felt sorry" for the journalist who was "not very good at his profession" since he could not "make a clear distinction" between economic information and state secrets. Qin also declined to confirm whether Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei would meet with Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith in Egypt. Strategic and Economic Dialogue -------------- ¶6. Qin announced that State Councilors Wang Qishan and Dai Bingguo would jointly chair the first U.S.-China bilateral Security and Economic Dialogue with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on July 27 and 28 in Washington D.C. to "exchange views on strategic, comprehensive and long term issues" and to "promote trust and cooperation." Future of the Six-Party Talks -------------- ¶7. When asked about North Korean Foreign Minister Kim Yong-nam's July 15 comments at the Non-aligned Movement meeting in Egypt that North Korea would not return to the Six-Party Talks, Qin said that China "believes dialogue, consultations and peaceful means" to achieve a denuclearized Korean Peninsula were "in the interests of all sides." "Relevant interests all made commitments and China hopes that they will honor those commitments" to advance the Six-Party Talks and "to deal with the issues and safeguard peace and stability in the region." Qin said that Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei returned to China from meetings with other Six-Party Talks member states where he "discussed relevant issues" and relevant parties agreed that there should be a "peaceful solution for the Korean Peninsula issue." "China hopes to maintain contact and communication with relevant countries by all means," Qin said. ASEAN Regional Forum -------------- ¶8. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will lead China's delegation to the ASEAN Regional Forum in Phuket, Thailand from July 22 to 23. Qin said that China hopes "relevant countries will exchange ideas on peace, stability and development in the region." Qin said he heard that North Korean Foreign Minister Kim Yong-nam would not attend the meetings and that North Korea would send someone else, but directed journalists to ask the Thai government for specific details. Qin also said he did not have any information on whether Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei would attend the meetings, and said China's bilateral meetings at ARF were "still under negotiation." Chinese Navy in the Gulf of Aden -------------- ¶9. In response to a question about the third group of Chinese naval vessels dispatched to the Gulf of Aden, Qin said the fleet's goal is to "fulfill China's obligation" to protect the safety and personnel of its people in the region as well as to ensure the delivery of needed humanitarian aid. Closing of Russian Market -------------- ¶10. With respect to reports that Chinese businessman face "difficulties" and had their goods confiscated since the Cherkizovsky market was closed by Moscow police, Qin stated that the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in Russia have been asked to investigate this situation. China will "keep an eye" on this issue and will "ensure the rights and safety of Chinese businesses in Russia." Hard Times for Environmentalist in Gansu -------------- ¶11. Qin said he was "unaware of the case" of Sun Xiaodi, a former uranium mine worker who became an environmental activist in Gansu province who was sentenced to two years of reform through labor for leaking state secrets and his 25 year old daughter Sun Haiyan who was sentenced to 18 months of reform through labor. BEIJING 00002025 003 OF 003 Reported of Death of a Nigerian in Guangzhou Under Investigation -------------- -------------- ¶12. On the reported death of a Nigerian man during a visa check in Guangzhou, Qin stated that the case was still under investigation, and that he was "not aware of the specifics." GOLDBERG