NOVEMBER 3, 2009 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: AFGHAN ELECTIONS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003037 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PARM SOCI CH PK IN UK RS EG MY SUBJECT: NOVEMBER 3, 2009 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: AFGHAN ELECTIONS, INDIA-CHINA, FINANCIAL CRISIS ¶1. Key points at the October 29 MFA press briefing: -- China had conveyed congratulations to Hamid Karzai for his election victory. -- China had expressed its "grave concerns" and opposition to reports of a planned visit to Arunachal Pradesh by the Dalai Lama. -- PRC Government remained committed to implementing sound economic and financial policies in response to the financial crisis. -- PRC President Hu Jintao would pay a state visit to Malaysia before the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Afghanistan Elections -------------- ¶2. At the November 3 session of the regular Ministry of Foreign Affairs press briefing, spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu noted that China had conveyed congratulations to Hamid Karzai for his election victory. As a friendly neighbor, China looked forward to the enhancement of peace and stability in Afghanistan and development in bilateral relations. Dalai Lama Travel -------------- ¶3. Characterizing the Dalai Lama as "telling lies" and a "separatist," Ma claimed comments by the Dalai Lama on Arunchal Pradesh were an attempt to damage relations between China and India. China had expressed its "grave concerns" and opposition to reports of a planned visit to Arunachal Pradesh by the Dalai Lama. China-India Relations -------------- ¶4. Ma noted that on October 24 on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Thailand, PRC Premier Wen Jiabao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had agreed to make efforts toward the stable development of bilateral relations. Asked about reports of Chinese workers traveling to India on fraudulent visas, Ma noted that Chinese enterprises had been contracted to develop large scale infrastructure projects in India. Though the companies tried to hire local workers, it was sometimes necessary to bring employees from China. China had made representations to India requesting simplified visa procedures to facilitate these projects which were good for bilateral relations. China in the G20 and Climate Change -------------- ¶4. Asked for China's views on the November 6-7 G20 meeting in Scotland, Ma said that the PRC Government remained committed to implementing sound economic and financial policies in response to the financial crisis. China would take an "objective" view of the situation, proceed from national interests and bear in mind the international situation. China supported fiscally proactive policies to promote financial development. Ma said he was unaware of any plans for meetings among Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) on the margins of the G-20. Hu in Malaysia -------------- ¶5. President Hu Jintao would pay his first state visit to Malaysia before the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The visit would also mark the first time in 15 years that a PRC president has visited Malaysia, and would be an important development in bilateral relations between the two countries, Ma said. President Hu would meet with King Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah and Prime Minister Abdullah Bin Ahmad Badawi to exchange views on bilateral issues and sign agreements on cultural and educational cooperation. Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in Egypt -------------- ¶6. Asked about Premier Wen Jiabao's discussion on climate change at the Nov 8-9 Forum of China-Africa Cooperation, Ma stated that the PRC government's position on climate change was very clear. China supported adhering to the Kyoto Protocol, the Bali roadmap and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Japanese Company Reparations -------------- ¶7. Regarding reports that a Japanese company would compensate BEIJING 00003037 002 OF 002 Chinese citizens for forced labor during World War II, Ma said that China hoped Japan would handle the matter properly and take a responsible attitude toward history. Imprisoned British Citizen -------------- ¶8. Ma noted that only the Ministry of Justice could answer questions regarding the case of British citizen Akmal Shaikh, who was sentenced to death on narcotics charges in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in 2007. HUNTSMAN