Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao said that issues
affecting Hong Kong
were a matter of domestic policy, and that China opposes
unsolicited opinions on them from other countries.
He was speaking at Tuesday's regular press conference, in
response to a report by the US State Department on human rights
that said Hong Kong should have more democracy.
Liu said China has noted the report, but democracy in Hong Kong
has shown remarkable development since sovereignty was resumed on
July 1, 1997, and will continue to make progress.
"The government aims to serve its people and has made tremendous
efforts in the fields of protecting human rights, expanding
democracy and enforcing the rule of law," he said.
Liu said the US State Department should have been fully aware of
the achievements made in the field of human rights protection.
He urged the US to stop intervening in the domestic affairs of
other countries using the excuse of human rights and to "pay more
attention to its own human rights situation."
In reply to a question on the Japanese Defense Agency report
voicing concern over recent two-digit growth in China's military
spending and its quest for an early end to the EU arms embargo, Liu
said Japan should view the situation "objectively" and not
"unreasonably" connect the two issues.
He said Japan is one-twenty-fifth the size of China in terms of
territory and has 10 percent its population, but its military
spending is US$41.5 billion while China's is US$25.6 billion.
Liu added that China seeks to lift the EU's ban to end political
discrimination and, "Either way, it has nothing to do with Japan
and will not undermine Japan's interests. We hope that the country
will adopt a correct attitude on the issue."
Asked about the situation in Kyrgyzstan, Liu said China is
paying close attention to the turmoil there that has injured over
10 Chinese citizens, three seriously, and resulted in economic
losses of US$7 million.
"Chinese Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Zhang Yannian went to the
hospital to see the injured, and conveyed the concern and cordial
regards of the government to them," Liu said.
China has asked Kyrgyzstan to treat the wounded within all its
capabilities, he said.
The Foreign Ministry and the embassy in Kyrgyzstan have launched
a quick-response mechanism and established an emergency hotline,
said Liu, who reminded Chinese citizens not to go to Kyrgyzstan at
present unless absolutely necessary.
"China has asked Kyrgyzstan to take effective measures to
protect Chinese citizens, property and organizations," he said.
Chinese nationals in Kyrgyzstan would have no problem returning
home since regular flights between Kyrgyzstan and China are still
in service, he said.
Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing has talked on the phone with the other foreign
ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member
countries, Liu said. "All sides are concerned about the current
situation in Kyrgyzstan and hope that it will stabilize as soon as
possible."
Founded on June 15, 2001, SCO now has six member states: China,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan.?
Turning to the Indonesian earthquake, Liu said that so far there
have been no Chinese casualties, including residents of Hong Kong,
Macao and Taiwan, adding that contacts with Indonesian authorities
will be maintained to monitor the situation.
He added that President Hu Jintao
sent a telegram to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to
express his condolences, and Li sent a letter of condolence to the
Indonesian foreign minister.
"We are deeply sympathetic toward the Indonesian people affected
by the disaster and would like to express our sincere condolences
to them," said Liu. US$500,000 in cash has so far been pledged by
the government and US$300,000 allocated by the Red
Cross Society of China, with both examining further aid.
Returning to the EU arms embargo, Liu said China appreciates
France and Germany's stance for an early end to it.
In response to a question about Jacques Chirac's visit to Japan,
he said the French president told Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi on Sunday that the decision to lift the ban is political
and that France will not revoke it.
"We hope the EU will proceed from the overall situation of
EU-China relationship and lift the ban as soon as possible," Liu
said.
The EU, keen to boost trade and diplomatic ties with China,
indicated on December 17, 2004 that it would lift the ban, in place
since 1989, at end of June.
France has led efforts to secure an early end to the embargo
despite opposition from the US and concerns among other EU member
states. The US fears China getting access to advanced weapons,
especially after its legislature adopted the Anti-Secession
Law, which said in formal, legal terms that it would use force
if Taiwan declares independence.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told reporters March 23
after an EU summit that Germany backed French efforts to secure an
early end of the ban.
Responding to the bird flu outbreak in the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK) that has caused hundreds of thousands of
chickens to be culled, Liu said no cases have been reported in
China.
Liu said that since early March, the government has taken
emergency measures and asked the three northeastern provinces to
prevent avian influenza from entering China through the DPRK.
When asked to comment on the decision adopted by the African
Union (AU) Executive Council to demand no less than two permanent
seats in the UN reform summit, Liu said UN reform should take into
consideration developing countries, especially African
countries.
The summit of world leaders for UN reform to take place in
September should pay close attention to developing countries,
particularly development-related issues for African countries such
as poverty, disease and funding shortages, said Liu.
China is in favor of enhancing the UN's role and authority
through necessary and reasonable UN reform, said Liu. It should
take into account suggestions from all sides and address their
concerns. Meanwhile, the AU's position should be valued and taken
into consideration.
There is no world peace or development without stability and
prosperity in Africa, Liu said. Africa is the continent with the
most developing countries, and China hopes they can play a bigger
role in every UN organization, including the Security Council.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily, CRI.com March 30,
2005)