James Andrew Kelly, the United States assistant secretary for
East Asian and Pacific Affairs, arrived in Beijing Tuesday
afternoon to discuss the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK) with Chinese officials.?
After a three-day visit to Japan, Kelly will exchange views with
China on the preparation of a new round of six-party talks,
US-China relations and other important international issues,
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a regular news
briefing in Beijing Tuesday, while providing no further
details.
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Kelly is scheduled to leave Beijing for Seoul later Wednesday, the
last stop of his three-nation Asian tour.
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When asked to comment on a DPRK statement that with a US offer of
written security assurances, the DPRK would consider to abandon its
nuclear programs conditionally, Liu said the Chinese side welcomes
the declaration.
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On November 16, a spokesman of the DPRK Foreign Ministry said that
the DPRK will maintain the invariable stand to seek a negotiated
peaceful solution to the nuclear issue, and is willing to take into
consideration the US offer of "written assurances of
non-aggression."
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The DPRK Foreign Ministry spokesman also declared that the DPRK is
ready to abandon in practice its nuclear program under certain
conditions.
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Liu said that the Chinese side welcomes the declaration by the DPRK
Foreign Ministry, which is regarded as another important and
positive message to the international community, indicating the
sincere attitude of the DPRK side to solve the nuclear issue.
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Liu said such declarations will help resume the negotiated process
for the solution of the nuclear issue, which will be appreciated by
all parties and the international community.
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The Chinese side hopes that all parties will take positive steps to
peacefully solve the nuclear issue, ahead of an early opening of
the second round of six-party talks, said Liu.
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Turning to the topic of the proposed Sino-Russian oil pipeline
project, the spokesman said China has noticed reports that Russia
has refused construction of the oil transmission pipeline from
Angarsk oil fields in eastern Siberia to refineries in northeast
China.
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He said Sino-Russian cooperation in the oil sector, consistent with
the economic development of the two countries, is a most important
part of bilateral economic and energy cooperation.
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When Premier Wen Jiabao met his counterpart Mikhail Kasyanov this
September, China and Russia chose to continue to implement their
cooperation in the energy field, he said.
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That means the two sides will boost cooperation between companies
in oil pipeline construction, oil field exploitation, and oil and
natural gas exports to China according to a joint statement signed
by the two countries' top leaders on May 27.
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Liu said he believes the two countries would honor their
commitments.
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Responding to the US Central Intelligence Agency's report that
nuclear cooperation between China and Pakistan is suspected
involving nuclear weapons, Liu said China is a contracting party of
the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and firmly
opposes any form of proliferation of nuclear weapons.
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He said the cooperation on nuclear power between China and Pakistan
is strictly for peaceful purposes and does not infringe on any
obligation under the non-proliferation treaty.
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"China is willing to receive safeguards and supervision from the
International Atomic Energy Agency,'' said Liu.
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The spokesman also noted that several foreign military delegations
are visiting China, including an Indian delegation headed by
Mohinder Singh, general officer commanding 4 corps.
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The Indian delegation has visited bases and colleges in Beijing,
and will visit Lhasa, capital of the Tibet
Autonomous Region in southwest China, and Chengdu, capital of
southwest China's Sichuan
Province.
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"The ongoing visit of an Indian military delegation is normal and
friendly,'' said Liu.
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(Sources including China Daily and Xinhua News Agency, November 19,
2003)
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