Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhang Qiyue announced in
Beijing Thursday that energy cooperation is an important part in
Sino-Russian relations and that China was willing to enhance it
with Russia.
In his recent visit to Russia, Premier Wen Jiabao reached four
common understandings with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov
in energy cooperation, which included both sides' decision to
further strengthen cooperation in oil and natural gas, Russia's
consideration of its Far East oil pipeline to China, more oil trade
by railway and faster plan for cooperative exploitation of natural
gas, noted Zhang at a routine news briefing.
She said it was convinced that both sides will make efforts
towards these common understandings, adding that Russian President
Putin will exchange views regarding to energy cooperation with
Chinese leaders during his visit.
China was also willing to cooperate with Russia in other fields
such as infrastructure construction, science and technology and
increase investment in the future, said Zhang, adding she believed
Putin's three-day state visit would be pragmatic and fruitful.
During Putin's stay, the two country will sign a document, in
which China will officially express its support to Russia's WTO
entry.
As for the two Chinese hostages issue, Zhang said the Chinese
government vehemently condemned the terrorist act of abducting
Chinese engineers in Pakistan.
Zhang said she deeply mourned the death of the Chinese victim
and extended deep condolences to the family members and
relatives.
The Chinese leaders, including President Hu Jintao and Premier
Wen Jiabao, have been very concerned about the safety of the two
Chinese engineers since their abduction Oct. 9, Zhang noted.
The Foreign Ministry and other relevant departments and Chinese
Embassy in Pakistan have kept a close contact with Pakistan, she
said. They have made utmost efforts and taken a series of measures
including dispatching a government working group there to rescue
the engineers.
China has noticed the efforts made by Pakistani leaders and
government to rescue the abducted Chinese citizens. China will
continue to work with Pakistan to handle the aftermath of the
kidnapping and to take further effective measures to ensure the
safety of Chinese personnel in Pakistan, Zhang said.
A working team, headed by Chen Jian, assistant to the Minister
of Commerce, involves personnel from the Chinese Foreign Ministry,
the Ministry of Commerce and the Commission for Supervision and
Management of State-owned Properties under the State Council will
leave Beijing on Friday for Pakistan to deal with the affairs.
The team will convey the condolence from the leadership of the
Communist Party of China and from the State Council to the victims
and Chinese personnel in Pakistan.
When commenting on?Somali election, Zhang said China
expressed welcome that Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed was elected president
of the Somalia transitional federal government and admired the
remorseless efforts made by East-Africa Inter-Governmental
Authority on Development (IGAD) and concerned countries in Africa
in promoting Somalia's peace course.
?
"The Chinese government has been closely following Somalia's peace
course, acted as coordinator in the United Nations Security Council
on the Somalia issue, supported international community's mediating
efforts, financed Somalia Peace Association within capacity, and
actively provided humanitarian aid for the Somali people," Zhang
said.
Zhang said China hopes that Somalia would establish a
transitional federal government, achieve "ethical reconciliation"
and national unification and resume peace, stability and security
in the near future.
China will continue to play positive role in this process, Zhang
said.
In response to the question on Sino- French relations, Zhang
said?that French President Jacques Chirac's visit to China was
"a great success."
China and France issued a joint press release at the conclusion
of Chirac's visit, which summarized common views of both sides
across a variety of fields.
Business representatives from China and France signed 20
agreements, which "reflect the depth and width of Sino-French
relations," said Zhang.
Meanwhile, she noted the leaders of both nations also declared
the beginning of the French Cultural
Year in Beijing, which not only showcases the charm and
achievement of French culture to the Chinese people, but also is a
great event in the cultural exchanges between the two nations.
It also embodies China's idea of enhancing cultural exchanges
among nations and different cultures, said Zhang.
Also at Thursday's press conference,?Zhang commented on
Sino-UN relations by?referring?to the visit of United
Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to China as "fruitful".
She noted the UN chief lauded China's active role in maintaining
world peace and fulfilling the UN's peace-keeping mission. She said
Chinese leaders have told Annan that the country attached great
importance to the role of the UN in helping solve international
disputes.
In the present complex world, the UN should be turned into the
most representative and authoritative international organization,
she acknowledged, and it should give scope to its leading role, so
as to help advance the development of international affairs toward
the direction of multilateralism and multipolarism.
(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2004)