Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu Thursday told a
regular press conference that China insists on seeking a just and
rational solution on border issue with India.
"China maintains its stance that both sides should seek a
rational solution through friendly consultation," said Jiang.
The two countries appointed special envoys in 2003 to draw up a
resolution to the dispute. Since then, frequent diplomatic efforts
on the border issue have been carried out, leading to the "guiding
principles" on how to resolve the dispute, an agreement signed by
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh in 2005.
When asked to comment on recent remarks about China's human
rights record made by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Jiang
said "China strongly opposes interference in the internal affairs
of other countries. China has always advocated dialogue on the
basis of equality and mutual respect to broaden common consensus
and narrow differences," Jiang said.
"China attaches great importance to China-Canada relations,"
Jiang said, adding that Chinese President Hu Jintao is scheduled to meet with Harper
during the APEC meeting.
In another development, "China is resolutely opposed to the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," said Jiang.
Jiang responded to recent speculation that China was considering
joining the Proliferation Security Initiatives (PSI), a US-led
counter-proliferation initiative proposed by US President George W.
Bush in 2003.
"We advocate the strengthening of international cooperation to
solve the proliferation issue through political and diplomatic
means," she said.
On Commander of the US Pacific Fleet Gary Roughead's visit to
China, Jiang said that it was conducive to mutual understanding and
trust of the two militaries.
Roughead is paying a visit to China from November 12 to 18 at
the invitation of the Chinese PLA's Navy.
During his week-long visit, Roughead is scheduled to meet with
senior Chinese military officers and government officials including
Ge Zhenfeng, deputy chief of the PLA General Staff; Wu Shengli,
Chinese PLA Navy commander; and He Yafei, assistant to the Chinese
Foreign Minister.
Besides Beijing, he also visited Shanghai and Zhanjiang in south
China's Guangdong Province.
He welcomed the USS Juneau (LPD 10) in Zhanjiang, which will
participate in a search-and-rescue exercise with the Chinese Navy
on November 19.
The event is the second phase of the first-ever joint
Sino-American search-and-rescue exercises, agreed on by Chinese and
US military leaders.
"These exercises will help improve mutual understanding and
build trust between the two militaries, particularly the two
navies," Jiang said.
On the six-party talks, China hopes all relevant parties seize
the current positive opportunity to work towards their resumption
and progress, said Jiang.
"China will keep contact with all relevant sides on setting the
date for the talks," she said.
Foreign ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
members that are sovereign states met Thursday in Hanoi, and agreed
to support the process of the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear
issue, she said.
They also exchanged views on other international and regional
issues including the Iranian nuclear and Middle East issues, she
added.
The six-party talks, involving China, North Korea, the United
States, South Korea, Russia and Japan, have held five rounds and
remained stalled since the last round was held in Beijing last
November.
The heads of delegations to the six-party talks from China,
North Korea and the United States had an informal meeting in
Beijing on October 31, and agreed that the six-party talks be
resumed soon when convenient to the six parties.
On Sudan's Darfur issue, Jiang said that China hopes all parties
involved continue the dialogue momentum for a peaceful resolution
of the issue at an early date.
"The deployment of UN peacekeepers in Darfur should first have
the consent of the Sudanese government," Jiang said, noting China
has taken notice of recent diplomatic efforts on the Darfur issue
by the United Nations (UN), African Union(AU) and Arabic Union.
The UN peacekeeping chief proposed a three-step plan on Tuesday
to beef up the understaffed, badly equipped and cash-strapped AU
peacekeeping force in Darfur.
"As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China will
continuously play a constructive role in solving the Darfur issue,"
said she.
China also expressed its deep concern on the tensions between
Israel and Palestine, and is paying close attention to the
deteriorating human rights situation and humanitarian crisis in the
occupied Palestinian territory.
"China calls upon Israel to stop its military action
immediately, and hopes the two sides respond to the mediating
efforts and prevent deterioration of the situation," Jiang said.
China will work with the relevant parties to push for a peaceful
solution to the issue, she added.
According to Jiang, the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday
held a special meeting on the occupied Palestinian territory and
adopted a resolution. China voted in favor of the resolution.
Also on Thursday, Jiang said that China appreciated and
supported any efforts aimed at securing peace, stability and
development in Africa and is willing to work with the global
community achieve these goals.
The remarks followed reports from Germany quoting German
Chancellor Angela Merkel as saying the European Union would make
African development a priority in 2007 and that Germany would lay
the groundwork for a summit that would bring together African and
European leaders.
The EU is set to wrap up its EU-Africa Week, a series of
meetings and discussions aimed at covering issues ranging from
politics to culture. The event is part of the EU's European
Development Days, a collection of events focused on European
efforts to boost assistance to the developing world.
China rolled out its own red carpet for 48 delegations from
African countries earlier this month for the Summit of China-Africa Cooperation Forum. The event
showcased the signing of a series of agreements worth US$1.9
billion.
Jiang reiterated Beijing's consistent stance of non-interference
in other countries' internal affairs, saying China respected the
path to development that African nations had chosen.
"We will never impose our own ideology, values or preferred
methods for development on other countries, especially African
countries, " said Jiang.
She said China thinks development is a priority for Africa,
which faces severe challenges in terms of alleviating poverty and
illnesses.
She urged the international community to pay more attention to
Africa's stability and development.
"Sino-Africa co-operation is not targeting any third party and
will not threaten the interests of any other country," Jiang
concluded.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily November 17, 2006)
