Thursday saw the opening of the France-Africa summit in the
southern French city of Cannes with over 30 African heads of state
in attendance.
Referring to the summit, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu
told a regular news briefing that China and the EU share common
concerns for Africa's peace, stability and sustainable development,
noting that the two sides could work together in playing an active
role to this end.
China welcomes cooperation with any country devoted to Africa's
peaceful development, she added.
Turning to the Iran nuclear issue, Jiang said China believes
the UN Security Council resolution should assist the peaceful
resolution via political and diplomatic routes.
Reports have emerged that US Under-Secretary of State for
Political Affairs Nicholas Burns has asked for an upgraded sanction
resolution by the UN Security Council following Iran's rejection of
the previous Resolution 1737.
Jiang announced China's hope that all parties will take
constructive measures toward helping the negotiations on the issue
resume at an early date.
An increase in diplomatic efforts is called for to bring Iran
back to the negotiating table, she said.
Tackling the Korean nuclear issue, Jiang spoke of China's call
to all to truly fulfill their words and thus implement the first
step in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
The fifth round of six-party talks ended in Beijing
on Tuesday on an optimistic note following the adoption of a joint
document charting the first step toward the denuclearization on the
peninsula.
"This was an important step for the six-party talks process,"
Jiang said, noting the material phase now entered in the
denuclearization process.
Under the document, North Korea will shut down and seal the
entirety of its Yongbyon nuclear facility whilst allowing IAEA
personnel to conduct all necessary monitoring and
verifications.
The parities agreed to provide emergency energy assistance to
North Korea at first, with the first 50,000 tons of heavy fuel oil
aid to commence arriving within 60 days, said the document.
China stands ready to help all parties begin this work related
and to implement related duties at an early date.
According to the document, the six parties will establish five
working groups relating to the denuclearization of the Korean
Peninsula, the normalization of US-North Korea relations, the
normalization of Japan-North Korea relations, economic and energy
cooperation and a Northeast Asia peace and security mechanism.
After discussion and deliberation, these working groups will
formulate specific plans for the implementation of the September
19, 2005 statement in their respective areas, with their next
meeting to be held within 30 days.
Jiang revealed that a Chinese official would lead the working
group on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a South
Korean official would oversee the group on economic and energy
cooperation, and a Russian official would head up their counterpart
for a Northeast Asia peace and security mechanism.
The leaders of the groups on normalization of US-North Korea and
Japan-North Korea relations would be appointed from within those
three countries, according to Jiang.
Jiang further addressed the energy package, saying the details
of the promised assistance would be finalized through consultation
and based upon appropriate assessments by the working group on
economic and energy cooperation.
As to any remaining issues between North Korea and Japan, Jiang
hoped the two nations could solve these through bilateral
contacts.
Ensuring Northeast Asia can enjoy long-term peace and security
is of fundamental interest to all nations in the region, she added,
encouraging Japan to maintain an active role in the
denuclearization process.
Finally, Jiang announced that at the invitation of Foreign
Minister Li Zhaoxing, French Foreign Minister Philippe
Douste-Blazy will visit from February 28 to March 1.
(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2007)
