Chinese and US negotiators have agreed to strive for an early
resumption of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear
issue and to make concerted efforts for progress, Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman Jiang Yu said yesterday at a regular news briefing.
Jiang said Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei met on Monday evening
with US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, and
exchanged in-depth views on issues related to the six-party
talks.
The two sides agreed to work together for the resumption and
further progress of the talks, she said, adding that the exact date
of resumption was under discussion.
"I believe we will have the six-party talks probably by the
middle of December, but what is important for us is that they
(will) be well planned," Hill said at the airport after he wound up
his one-day visit to Beijing.
Jiang also denied reports that Beijing had unfrozen North
Korea's accounts in Macao-based Banco Delta Asia. The accounts were
frozen after Washington accused Pyongyang of money laundering and
counterfeiting.
The financial sanctions were imposed by Macao, not Beijing,
Jiang said, adding that "we support the Macao government in
handling this according to the law." Macao's monetary authority
yesterday further denied reports of lifting curbs on the
accounts.
Jiang reiterated China's position that the bank dispute should
not impede the resumption of the six-party talks. "We hope all
sides will be able to proceed in the overall interest of the
six-party talks, and seek an appropriate resolution as soon as
possible."
On the possibility of North Korean chief negotiator Kim Kye-gwan
visiting China and his Chinese counterpart Wu Dawei visiting
Pyongyang, Jiang called it speculation.
The six-party talks involving China, the US, Russia, Japan,
South and North Korea have been stalled since last November as
North Korea refused to return to the talks due to US-imposed
sanctions.
North Korea said on November 1 that it was willing to return to
the nuclear talks, but did not offer a specific date.
Commenting on Sino-Indian economic cooperation, Jiang said China
hopes joint efforts can be made to clear trade and investment
barriers between the two nations.
China and India should continuously enhance their levels of
economic and trade cooperation, and provide convenient and
favorable environments for investment and business in India for
Chinese enterprises for the benefit of both sides, Jiang said.
Sino-Indian economic and trade cooperation has been conducted on
an equal footing and China hopes the momentum of development will
be maintained, she said.
China hopes relevant departments from both sides can take a
strategic view of the overall long-term friendship and thus
contribute to bilateral cooperation, she added.
China-India trade volume is growing by 20 to 30 percent
annually. It reached US$18.7 billion in 2005,up 37.5 percent over
2004.
While giving details on Mongolian Prime Minister Miegombyn
Enkhbold's visit from November 22 to 27, Jiang said he will meet
Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress (NPC), Wu Bangguo, and Chairman of the National
Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
(CPPCC), Jia Qinglin, respectively. He will also hold
talks with Premier Wen Jiabao.
Besides Beijing, Enkhbold will visit Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Xi'an,
capital of Shaanxi Province.
China and Mongolia established a mutual trust partnership in
2003 when President Hu Jintao visited the country.
Jiang said overall bilateral relations were sound, with frequent
high-level exchanges, expanding economic and trade cooperation and
increasing understanding.
Trade between China and Mongolia hit US$1.13 billion in the
first nine months of this year, up 88.8 percent from the same
period last year; it reached US$860 million in 2005, up 24 percent
from 2004, Jiang said.
In another development, Jiang said China has noted the situation
in Mexico, and hopes stability will be maintained there.
Felipe Calderon of the ruling National Action Party won the July
2 presidential election and will take office on December 1.
Defeated presidential candidate, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of
the left-wing For the Good of All Coalition, was sworn in as
Mexico's "legitimate president" on Monday, in a move aimed at
keeping Calderon from governing.
(Xinhua News Agency November 22, 2006)