China said on Tuesday that a draft UN resolution pressing for
sanctions over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
missile test is an overreaction.
"China thinks the concerned draft resolution is an overreaction.
If approved, it will escalate the contradictions and increase
tension," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular
press briefing on Tuesday.
"The draft resolution will harm the peace and stability in the
Korean peninsula and Northeast Asian region and hurt efforts to
resume the six-party talks and split the UN Security Council,"
Jiang added. "The draft resolution requires a substantial
revision."
"China is gravely concerned about the current situation and
supports the proper reaction from the UN Security Council."
Japan formally presented a draft resolution on Friday, seeking
sanctions against the DPRK. The draft, co-sponsored by Britain,
France and the US, invokes Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which
authorizes sanctions or even military action.
China cannot accept any measure which is an overreaction or that
could lead to a worsened situation, Jiang said.
However, she added: "It is proper for the UN Security Council to
pass a presidential statement which sends a clear and strong
signal."
China would like to work with the parties concerned to resume
the six-party talks as soon as possible.
The last round of six-party talks, involving China, the DPRK,
the US, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan, ended with a
Chairman's Statement, in which the parties agreed to resume talks
as soon as possible.
As the tense situation on the Korean Peninsula has prolonged for
more than five decades, it is impossible to resolve the issue
through one or two visits, Jiang said.
"Diplomatic efforts take time, thus all parties should be
patient and play constructive roles," she added.
China on Monday introduced a draft UN Security Council
presidential statement on Pyongyang's missile launch, calling for
the concerned parties to work together on the early resumption of
the six-party talks.
US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill headed back to
Beijing on Tuesday afternoon after talks with officials of the
Republic of Korea and Japan, following Pyongyang's missile tests
last week.
"The Chinese government has an important diplomatic mission
going on, so we want to be in close consultation with the Chinese
government," Hill said.
According to Jiang, China is still working on Hill's meeting
schedules in Beijing.
This is Hill's second visit to Beijing within a week. Last
Friday, he discussed with Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing how to break the Korean nuclear
deadlock.
Turning to the new Mexican government, Jiang said China will
enhance strategic partnership with it.
China has always attached great importance to Sino-Mexican
relations and will make concerted efforts to strengthen strategic
partnership between the two countries.
Felipe Calderon, candidate for the ruling National Action Party
(PAN), has won the Mexican presidential elections, the Federal
Electoral Institute announced on July 6.
However, Calderon was not immediately declared president-elect,
and the Federal Electoral Tribunal has until September 6 to
officially declare who will replace outgoing President Vicente
Fox.
In another development, Jiang said that at the invitation of
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Hu Jintao will attend the outreach session of
the G8 Summit on July 17.
This G8 Summit will be held in St. Petersburg, Russia. Jiang
said, adding that the session will discuss energy security,
prevention and control of epidemic diseases, education, African
development and other topics.
Before the summit, Hu will also hold a group meeting on July 16
with leaders from India, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico and the
Republic of Congo, in which they will exchange views on issues of
mutual interest, Jiang said.
Jiang also announced that Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Nam Hong will pay an official visit
to China from July 13 to 16, at the invitation of Foreign Minister
Li.
Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf will pay a state visit to China
from July 17 to 22, at Hu's invitation.
Jiang also said the replica of the legendary 18th Century
Swedish merchant ship Gotheborg is due to arrive in South
China's Guangdong Province on July 17 to coincide with
the Swedish King's arrival.
The Gotheborg is a symbol of 260 years of friendly
relations between Sweden and China, and would promote further
exchanges between the two countries.
The ship departed from the Swedish city of Gothenburg in October
last year for China to retrace the 1745 voyage of the original
three-mast East Indiaman vessel before it mysteriously sank off
Sweden's coast with a cargo of Chinese porcelain, silk and tea.
The original Gotheborg made three voyages from Gothenburg
to Guangzhou between 1743 and 1745, pioneering trade between Sweden
and China.
(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2006)