Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang on Thursday reiterated that
China is willing to resolve the East China Sea issues between
China and Japan through dialogue.
China and Japan dispute boundaries. Qin told a regular press
conference that China's natural gas exploration activities are
carried out in China's offshore area but not in the disputed area,
and China's policy for solving the relevant issues with Japan
through dialogue has not changed.
China and Japan have not drawn border demarcations in the
disputed area although Japan once unilaterally announced a median
line, which was not accepted by China.
Indonesian navy firing on Chinese fishing
vessel
China Thursday urged Indonesia not to abuse military force after
an Indonesian navy warship fired on a Chinese fishing vessel, which
was allegedly a poaching vessel, on Monday in the Arafura Sea off
Papua Island.
The incident took place at about 10:50 A.M. local time. The navy
fired 13 shots at the Chinese boat, the Fuyuan 123, killing one man
and wounding two others. The 10 surviving crewmembers including the
wounded are being detained in Indonesia.
"China hopes the Indonesian government will take effective
measures to discipline the navy and relevant units responsible, to
shun abuse of force in the course of law enforcement and ensure
that an incident of this kind does not happen again," Qin said.
"
China and Indonesia as friendly countries should deal with
problems in fishing cooperation in a sober and
restrained?manner rather than resorting to use of force," Qin
added.
Immediately after the incident, the Chinese Foreign Ministry and
Chinese Embassy in Jakarta lodged solemn representations to
Indonesia and expressed astonishment and strong dissatisfaction
with the navy's brand of law enforcement, Qin said.
China has requested that Indonesia verify the facts of the
matter as quickly as possible and keep China informed, Qin
said.
"Meanwhile, the Indonesian side should take every step necessary
to provide medical aid to the wounded and guarantee the safety of
the other crew members detained."
China, India to hold sixth meeting on border
issue
Special representatives from
China and India are scheduled to hold their sixth meeting on
border issue in Beijing from September 26 to 27, Qin announced.
China and India reached an agreement on the guiding principles
at the fifth round, which was held in New Delhi in April.
"Proceeding from the overall political interests of bilateral
relations, representatives from the two countries will explore the
framework of solution to the China-India border issue in compliance
with the agreement," Qin said.
The meeting is expected to be co-chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign
Minister Dai Bingguo and Indian National Security Advisor M.K.
Narayanan, Qin said.
Iran nuclear issue
China has called for the early resumption of talks between Iran
and the European Union (EU) to solve the Iran nuclear issue within
the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the
United Nations' nuclear watchdog.
"The urgency at present is to resume negotiations between Iran
and the EU at an early date," Qin said.
"The negotiations will help the two sides bridge their
differences and finally secure a solution acceptable to all," Qin
added.
"This is conducive to regional peace and stability and to
maintaining the mechanism of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
(NPT)," Qin went on.
The EU on Tuesday circulated a draft resolution to the 35
members of the IAEA Board of Governors. The draft refers Iran to
the United Nations Security Council.
But the EU retracted the draft on Thursday.
Iran resumed uranium conversion work in August, after rejecting
the EU?proposal to give up its nuclear fuel activities in
return for economic and technical incentives. Iran insists that it
would never give up its right to the peaceful use of nuclear
energy.
Zoellick's remarks on China's political
system
China has taken note of the remarks made by US Deputy Secretary
of State Robert Zoellick on China's political system, Qin said.
It was reported that Zoellick on Wednesday urged China to begin
a transition to democracy, contending that the existing one-party
system is not sustainable.
Qin said since implementing the reform and opening-up policy 27
years ago, China has made noticeable achievements acknowledged by
the whole world.
"China has enjoyed rapid and stable economic growth,
increasingly improved people's living standard, made progress in
human rights, its legal system and various other fields," Qin said,
noting that China is devoted to peaceful development, and that
China plays an important role in safeguarding world peace,
stability and prosperity.
China and the US, as two of the more important countries in the
world, enjoy sound bilateral ties at present, Qin emphasized.
Promoting constructive and cooperative Sino-US ties in an
all-round way accords with the common interests of both sides, and
is also conducive to regional and world peace, stability and
development, Qin highlighted.
(Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2005)