Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing's upcoming Japan trip will lay the
groundwork ahead of Premier Wen Jiabao's official visit in April, the
Foreign Ministry said yesterday. Li will visit Japan from February
15, the first such occasion since 2004.
During his stay Li will not only hold talks with Japanese
counterpart Taro Aso, but also meet with Japanese Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe, ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular news
briefing.
Relations between the two countries have markedly improved since
Abe's visit to China last October, widely heralded as a "turning
point" in bilateral ties.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the normalization of
China-Japan diplomatic relations, with the two sides commemorating
the occasion with a year of sporting and cultural exchanges.
South Korea urged to deal appropriately with blaze
aftermath
South Korea has been asked to make all arrangements needed for
the families of the Chinese victims of a fire at a detention center
in Yeosu.
Jiang announced that China requires South Korea to give its full
support to the families of the dead and injured.
Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy has pressed South Korean
authorities to provide a full list of Chinese casualties and
rapidly determined the cause of the fire.
"Three of the dead still have not been identified as South Korea
can only provide their names in English," said Zhao Dengyu, a
consul at the Chinese embassy, adding that domestic authorities are
busy providing a name and a picture for each Chinese victim.
Chinese Ambassador Ning Fukui arrived in Yeosu yesterday to
visit the injured and the families of the dead and to express his
condolences.
Putin's criticism of the US
Commenting on Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent speech
rebuking the US, Jiang said: "As the international situation is
filled with opportunities and challenges, all countries should make
efforts to create a harmonious world featuring lasting peace and
common prosperity."
Putin spoke in Munich on Saturday at G-7 security conference,
saying that the US' "almost uncontained" use of force has led to
other nations developing weapons of mass destruction, including
nuclear weapons.
"All countries should step up cooperation, seize opportunities
and cope with challenges," Jiang added.
China, Russia actively promote signing of treaty to prevent
space arms race
In recent years China, Russia among other nations have been
actively lobbying the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva for a
treaty preventing an arms race in space, Jiang said, adding that
China stood clearly opposed to the deployment of weapons in space
and had made suggestions to this effect.
China will continue to press the international community in this
regard, she noted.
Jiang reiterated that China is committed to peaceful
development, an independent foreign policy of peace, and a defense
policy based on the right to self-defense.
China has always supported the peaceful use of space, urges
international cooperation and exchanges in this regard, and pledges
to never participate in any space arms race, she said.
Early repatriation of Lai Changxing urged
China's stances have not changed vis-à-vis the repatriation of
highly wanted fugitive Lai Changxing, with his urgent repatriation
in the common interests of both China and Canada, Jiang said.
Lai stands accused of masterminding the country's largest
smuggling ring. He fled to Canada in 1999 and remains there,
although he is confined to his home
Beijing wishes him repatriated to stand trial on charges of
smuggling, bribery and tax evasion. However, Canadian officials are
unwilling to allow Lai's extradition afraid that he may be
sentenced to death. Recently, Canada's federal court held a hearing
evaluating the risks involved in repatriating Li.
Sri Lanka president to visit China
At the invitation of President Hu Jintao, Sri Lankan President Mahinda
Rajapakse will visit from February 26 to March 4, Jiang
announced.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily February 14, 2007)
