Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao Tuesday called
for "reasonable expectations" for the first working group meeting
of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear
issue.?
Noting that the parties involved have pledged for "flexibility,
patience and pragmatism" at the meeting that begins today in
Beijing, Liu said at a regular news briefing that it requires "a
period of time" to narrow down the differences in such areas as how
to achieve non-nuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and the first
step in dismantling nuclear programs.
"We hope that all parties will have in-depth exchanges of their
views and put forward sound plans to resolve each other's concerns
and prepare for the next round of talks," said Liu.
After two rounds of ministerial-level six-party talks, the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has sought economic
aid in exchange for freezing its nuclear programs.
The United States, while noting DPRK's need for energy sources,
nevertheless asked the country to first dismantle all its nuclear
programs in a "complete, verifiable and irreversible" manner.
The second round of six-party talks, which was held in late
February, left room for further discussion about the scope for
freezing nuclear programs and how to conduct nuclear inspections on
the Korean Peninsula.
Liu said the working group meeting will discuss the issues that
the second round of six-party talks "touched upon but did not have
time to probe deeper."
"We hope that through full consultations and discussions,
related parties will enhance understanding, increase trust and
dispel suspicion, seek and build up consensus," said Liu, adding
that the meeting is a continuation and a part of the six-party
talks.
The open-ended meeting will be attended by delegations from the
six countries.
They are headed respectively by Ning Fukui from China, Li Gun
from the DPRK, Joseph DeTrani from the United States, Cho Tae-yong
from the Republic of Korea, V. Sukhinin from Russia and Akitaika
Saiki from Japan.
Starting Tuesday, Ning, who is China's special envoy for Korean
Peninsula affairs and chairs the working group meeting, has held
separate talks with the heads of the other delegations.
Liu declined to give further details as what the bilateral talks
have touched upon.
Liu Tuesday also reiterated other countries should acknowledge
the one-China principle in pursuing and developing diplomatic ties
with China.
"If the leader of a country is sincere in developing ties with
China, it must respect and accept such a stance of the Chinese
government (that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is
a part of China)," said Liu.
Liu was responding to remarks made by the newly-elected
President of Panama Martin Torrijos. Torrijos said during his
election campaign that he would consider or propose the
establishment of diplomatic relations with Beijing without severing
diplomatic ties with Taipei.
In another development, the spokesman expressed strong
dissatisfaction over the US Congress' decision to pass a motion
supporting Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization
(WHO).
Liu said the US Congress insisted on passing the motion despite
China's opposition. China has lodged solemn representation to the
US side over this issue.
Liu said the WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations
and only sovereign states are eligible to apply for membership.
According to the WHO's rules and regulations, Taiwan, as a part of
China, is not eligible to participate in the WHO or attend the WHO
conference as an observer, Liu said.
He said the Chinese central government has been always concerned
over the well-being and the right of health of the Taiwan people,
and has promoted exchanges on health across the straits to help
Taiwan acquire the relevant information.
Liu noted that with the permission of the Chinese central
government, experts from the WHO have been to Taiwan several times
to learn about severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and other
epidemics there, and the Taiwan experts have also participated in
the WHO special meetings on SARS and cancer.
Facts show that Taiwan has a smooth channel to get health
information, he said, adding that the Chinese central government
had expressed welcome for Taiwan health experts to join the Chinese
delegation to present at the WHO conference.
He said if Taiwan needs the WHO's technical assistance, so long
as it informs the Chinese central government, China will give
active consideration to their needs.
Liu said the real purpose of the Taiwan authorities does not lie
in the health issue, but to create "two Chinas" and "one China, one
Taiwan" in the international community to achieve its attempt at
"Taiwan Independence", which can not succeed, Liu said.
China urges the US side to honor its promise of abiding by the
one-China policy and the three Sino-US joint communiqués, opposing
"Taiwan independence", and prudently and properly handling the
WHO's Taiwan-related issues, lest they damage the Sino-US
relations, he said.
Moving on to the Iraq issue, the spokesman claimed a thorough
investigation should be made into the abuses of Iraqi prisoners by
US and British military personnel, and those responsible should be
punished according to laws.
Liu said the abuses are violations of the Geneva Conventions and
other international conventions. The United States and Britain
should abide by these international conventions and protect the
basic human rights of Iraqi prisoners, he said.
Liu said abuses of prisoners run against both the international
laws and the internal laws of relevant countries. The handling of
the case should be based on a thorough investigation.
He said the abuses of Iraqi prisoners show that violations of
human rights may take any forms in any countries and any regions.
Therefore, protection of human rights is a common task for the
entire human race and all countries in the world.
China claims that human rights issues should be handled through
dialogues, instead of confrontations, in a bid to increase
understanding and diminish differences, he said.
Also at yesterday's briefing, the spokesman announced Kazakh
President Nursultan Nazarbayev will pay a state visit to China from
May 16 to 19 at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao.
During the visit, both leaders will exchange views on bilateral
relations, promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in various
spheres, and other global and regional issues of common concern,
according to Liu.
(Sources including China Daily and Xinhua News Agency, May 12,
2004)