Q: The Prime Minister of Japan is meeting
with President Bush today to present Japan’s plan to
support war against terrorism. I wish to know what is
China’s position on Japan’s decision to revise
the current law in order to be involved in this
war?
A: We have taken notice of the
relevant reports. The fight against terrorism is a common
task for the international community. We understand that the
relevant parties are conducting consultations and
cooperation in the combat against international terrorism.
We hope the relevant parties make their efforts in light of
their practical situation and on the basis of the purposes
and principles of the UN Charter.
At the same
time, I wish to make one point. Due to historical reasons,
the question involving Japan’s role in the military
field is a very sensitive one. It is especially true for
Japan’s neighbours. Thus, it is hoped that Japan would
act in a prudent manner.
Q:
Yesterday, Russian President Putin said that Russia would
help Afghan’s Northern Alliance with Russian weapons.
It is the Russian reaction to US’s future military
action in the Afghanistan. What kind of actions will China
take if the US take military actions in Afghanistan? Will
China send its own weapons to the Northern
Alliance?
A: We have noticed the
relevant statements of President Putin. China always opposes
and condemns all sorts of terrorism. We hold that the
international community should make common efforts to fight
international terrorism. China and Russia share common
interests and positions in this field. The two sides have
been in close contacts and consultations with each other
since the September 11 Incident. China and Russia resolutely
oppose all sorts of violent terrorist activities. Not long
ago, President Jiang spoke over the phone with President
Putin, during which the two further elaborated their
position on this question. China will closely follow the
development of the situation. We will continue to have
contacts and coordination with the relevant parties,
including Russia.
On your specific question, I
wish to point it out that we have normal channels for
contact with the Anti-Taliban Northern Alliance. However, I
would not comment on actions to be taken after the outbreak
of a war. Our position on the Afghanistan issue is
clear-cut. We hope to see efforts of the international
community on this question contribute to peace in
Afghanistan and the stability of the region.
Q: President Bush announced a
major international effort to crack down on the financing of
international terrorists. What role can China play in
helping the USA in this effort? In addition, you said in the
past that China has some kind of unofficial, working-level
contacts with the Taliban. Have those contacts been cut off
since the September 11 Incident?
A:
We have noticed the announcement by President Bush. The
Chinese Government supports more cooperation with the
international community to jointly combat all sorts of
violent terrorist activities. This includes measures to
prevent and stop the financing of violent terrorists. We are
ready to strengthen our cooperation with the United States
in this field.
On the second question, we do
not have any contacts with the Taliban at the moment.
Q: There are reports or
speculations that bin Laden may already be in China.
What’s China’s position on
that?
A: Britain’s Guardian
newspaper carried an article on the speculation that you
have just mentioned. However, the article did not specify
the source. When answering the questions two days ago, I
already put it explicitly that the Guardian’s report
is totally groundless. Some correspondents raised similar
questions before. My answer is that there is no such a
possibility. We will certainly adopt the necessary measures.
There is no such a possibility for bin Laden to come into
China. As you just mentioned, your claim is based upon some
speculations and guess, which are certainly not the truth.
We hope that some media would not make unfounded
speculations.
Q: Mr. Tang,
when he was in the United States, agreed with Mr. Powell to
have anti-terrorist expert exchanges. Could you please
elaborate on that? When will it start? My second question: I
wish to know if China has any visa restrictions on people
from the Middle East?
A: During his
visit to the States, Foreign Minister Tang held talks with
Mr. Powell and agreed to have consultations and cooperation
on a series of questions, including the fight against
terrorism. This is an important visit in promoting mutual
understanding and strengthening cooperation in various
fields. There are already full coverage of the fruits of the
visit. The two countries reached consensus on conducting
consultations and cooperation in the fight against
terrorism. Namely, the two stressed the importance of such
consultations and cooperation. They agreed to hold
anti-terrorist expert-level consultations in the near
future. The two will also enhance their consultation and
cooperation at the UN Security Council. So far, I have no
more details to offer.
On the second question,
China welcomes people of other countries to come
to China for normal activities. This is China’s
consistent policy. There is no change to it. Needless to
say, various countries may make appropriate adjustments to
their visa regime or practice at different time due to
technical reason. It is quite understandable.
Q: Recently, the US Government
lifted its sanctions against Pakistan and India, which were
imposed for the nuclear non-proliferation issue. What is
China’s comment? Not long ago, the US Government
imposed sanctions on a Chinese company, which has business
links with Pakistan for alleged nuclear proliferation. Does
China also wish the United States to lift its sanction
against China?
A: On the first
question, China always stands for using dialogue and
consultations, instead of sanctions, to seek solutions to
the relevant issues.
On the second question,
we have consistent held that Sino-US cooperation in the
field of non-proliferation should be based on mutual trust,
mutual respect and mutual accommodation. We call on the
United States to immediately lift the relevant sanctions so
as to create the necessary conditions for the restoration of
consultations on the non-proliferation issue.
Q: If the United States
launches attacks against Afghanistan, what kind of measures
will China adopt to maintain the stability of its western
Muslim region? In addition, China is not opposed to US armed
attacks upon Afghanistan. Is it a violation of China’s
consistent policy of non-interference in other
country’s internal affairs?
A:
As I mentioned in the last press conference, Xinjiang is
enjoying social stability. Remarkable achievements have been
made in Xinjiang’s economic development and social
progress since the policy of reform and opening up was
introduced. There is a marked improvement in people’s
living standard. With the correct religious policy of the
Chinese Government, the different ethnic groups of Xinjiang
enjoy freedom of religious belief. There is remarkable
progress in the human rights condition. The Chinese
Government is implementing the strategy to develop its
western region. This will provide a golden opportunity for
the overall development of Xinjiang. The splittist and
terrorist activities of a handful of people totally run
against the will of the Chinese people, including people of
various ethnic groups in Xinjiang. These activities will
meet with the resolute opposition of the Chinese people.
China is fully capable of handling the relevant issues.
On the second question, the Chinese Government
resolutely opposes all sorts of terrorism. What China
supports are the attacks on terrorism. The September 11
Incident in the United States has demonstrated that
terrorism is a major threat to world peace and stability. It
has become a serious danger to the world. The international
community enjoys widespread consensus on the fight against
international terrorism. We are willing to strengthen our
dialogue and cooperation with the international community in
the fight against all sorts of terrorism. At the same time,
we hope that the relevant anti-terrorist activities could be
conducted within the framework of the UN Charter and the
international law.
Q: UN may
hold a conference on terrorism in November. Will China, the
United States and Russia come up with some concrete measures
at the conference? Even if everyone calls for a greater role
of the UN in the fight against terrorism, the UN has not
play a full role in dealing with the September 11 Incident.
What’s China’s
comment?
A: The conference that you
have just mentioned is not in session yet. So I can not make
any predictions. However, many countries have indicated that
cooperation should be strengthened within the framework of
the United Nations to jointly combat terrorism. The fight is
a consistent and arduous task. It cannot be done at a
stroke. It calls upon the joint efforts of the international
community to enhance their cooperation. The UN is an
international institution with wide representation. It is
also an important international organization in the
maintenance of world peace and security. We hold that the UN
and the Security Council should play a full role in the
fight against terrorism, which is a major issue bearing upon
international peace and security.
Q: Will the September 11 Incident have any
impact on the agenda of the APEC
meeting?
A: The violent terrorist
attacks on the United States on 11 September have major
impact on the international community. It has become an
important issue in international relations. It has also
influenced the economy of the world and the Asia-Pacific
region. The APEC Economic Leaders Meeting to be held in
Shanghai in October and its ministerial meeting are
important international meetings. They will follow the
relevant issues of the September 11 Incident. As the host of
the meeting, China is consulting with the relevant parties
on the concrete format for the discussion.
Q: You just mentioned that
Foreign Minister Tang and Mr. Powell held consultations on
the anti-terrorist issue. Could you please elaborate a
little bit? Does China believe that the United States could
launch military actions without the authorization of the UN
Security Council?
A: I could brief
you on Mr. Tang’s visit to the States. From 20 to 21
September, Foreign Minister Tang paid a visit to the US at
the invitation of US Secretary of State Powell. The visit is
a return visit to the one made by Mr. Powell to China in
July. It also aims to prepare for President Bush’s
visit to China and the summit meetings.
During
the visit, Mr. Tang held talks with Mr. Powell. He also met
with President Bush, Vice President Cheney, US National
Security Advisor Rice and other US leaders. The two sides
had an in-depth exchange of views on the bilateral
relations, the fight against terrorism and other
international and regional issues of common concern. The
visit is a positive and fruitful one. It works to enhance
the mutual understanding and promote the improvement and
development of the bilateral relations.
During
the visit, the two sides reached agreements on the following
issues: First, China and the United States express their
readiness to prepare for the Autumn summit meeting between
President Jiang and President Bush, as well as President
Bush’s visit to China. The two will jointly work for a
successful meeting and visit. Secondly, the two stress the
importance of conducting consultation and cooperation in the
field of anti-terrorism. They agree to hold anti-terrorism
expert-level talks in the near future. They will also
increase their consultation and cooperation at the UN
Security Council. Thirdly, the two sides believe that it is
of major significance to the development of bilateral
relations for the two foreign ministries to maintain regular
dialogues. China’s Vice Foreign Ministers Li Zhaoxing
and Wang Yi will visit the United States respectively early
next year for the bilateral deputy foreign minister-level
political consultations and the policy consultations on
Asian and the international situation. Fourthly, the two
sides agree that the spread of Aids has become a major
threat to the mankind. The two agree to strengthen their
cooperation in the prevention of Aids. Fifthly, The two
sides will hold inter-governmental human rights dialogue in
the near future.
On the second question, I
wish to point it out that terrorism has become a major
threat to world peace and stability. It is a serious danger
to the international community. China resolutely opposes all
sorts of terrorism. On this question, we stand by the
Americans and the international community. At the
same time, we also support the multilateral
cooperation within UNSC and other fora. We hold that all
actions should contribute to the long-term objective of
safeguarding world peace and development.
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