China will strengthen its cooperation with the world community
in an effort to commonly deal with the climate change issue,
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang said at a regular press
conference on Thursday.
Under current situation, all parties should neither deviate from
the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto
Protocol nor deviate from or abandon the principle of "common but
differentiated responsibilities", Qin said.
Every country should base on its conditions and make its own
efforts to positively deal with the climate change, he added.
The developed nations should provide developing countries with
more fund and technical support so as to help the latter to enhance
their capabilities in dealing with the climate change, Qin
said.
A two-week UN climate change conference opened in Bali,
Indonesia on Monday. About 10,000 delegates from over 180 countries
and regions attended the conference, which focused on measures to
be implemented on global greenhouse gas emissions reduction after
the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.
China-Japan ties
China said mutual respect for each other's concerns and a proper
settlement of sensitive issues, including the history issue and the
Taiwan issue, are most important to maintaining and furthering the
sound momentum of the currently improving and developing
China-Japan ties.
Qin made the remarks when asked whether China cares more about
the reality issue than the history issue in its relationship with
Japan.
Qin noted the Chinese government has always taken "a firm
attitude" on developing a good-neighborly and cooperative
relationship with Japan and is willing to work together with Japan
in the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit so as
to keep and further the sound momentum of the currently improving
and developing China-Japan ties.
On the Taiwan issue, Qin said to oppose Taiwan's efforts to
"join the United Nations through a referendum" and seek for
independence is key to ensuring the healthy and stable development
of China-Japan relations, adding that this is an issue of
principle.
On the history issue, Qin said remembering the bitter past is
intended to better cherish the hard-won improvement and development
of China-Japan ties and to create a better future for the ties.
China hoped Japan could take the same attitude as China to make
joint efforts to move forward bilateral relations in the spirit of
"taking history as a mirror and looking toward the future," Qin
said.
Dalai Lama's splittist activities
Qin reiterated China's firm opposition to Dalai Lama's splittist
activities, and cautioned relevant countries not to provide
convenience to such attempts.
"Dalai is a political exile cloaked under religion but engaged
in splittist and peace-sabotaging attempts," Qin said when
answering questions on Dalai's visit to Italy and plan to meet with
Italian political figures.
"Wherever Dalai goes, or in what name, the issue is not personal
or religious. He represents a clique trying to split the country
and seeking Tibetan independence, to which the Chinese government
and people are firmly opposed," Qin said.
The Tibet issue is not a cultural or religion issue, but an
issue concerning fundamental principles that have to do with
China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and anti-splittist
undertakings, he said.
He said relevant countries shall discern Dalai's true motive and
nature of splittist activities, and not to provide venues or
convenience to such attempts by "taking into account the overall
international relations".
Iran nuclear issue
China will join hands with other parties in stepping up
exchanges and consultations so as to make constructive efforts for
peacefully and properly settling the Iran nuclear issue, Qin said when asked when
China will make its decision on whether to support new sanctions on
Iran given the United States' latest National Intelligence Estimate
(NIE) released on Monday.
Qin said China is studying the estimate report and consulting
with related parties, adding that China hoped all parties could
make joint efforts towards a proper and better settlement of the
Iran nuclear issue.
China has always supported the international nuclear
nonproliferation regime and opposed proliferation of nuclear
weapons in an effort to maintain a peaceful and stable Middle East,
Qin said.
"That's why we uphold a peaceful solution to the issue through
consultations," he said, adding "any move taken by the Security
Council should be conducive to realizing these goals."
The latest National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), the formal
consensus of all 16 US spy agencies, said on Monday that Iran
halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003, a stark reversal of
previous intelligence assessments that Iran was actively moving
towards the development of a bomb.
The UN Security Council has issued two resolutions against
Iran's nuclear program since last December, but both of them failed
to persuade Iran to give up uranium enrichment work. The United
States is pressing for a third resolution at the UN Security
Council while Russia and China are opposed to such a sanction and
advocate a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear issue.
Cooperation with Africa
China always attaches great importance to consolidation and
cooperation with Africa based on mutual respect and benefit, Qin
said.
The consolidation and cooperation did not aim at any third party
and were conducive to peace, stability and the common development
of Africa and the world, Qin said.
He made the comment when asked about some Western countries'
remarks on increasing links with Africa so as to curb China's
influence in this region.
"We noticed that some Western countries expressed intention to
increase investment in Africa and we express welcome toward this,"
Qin said.
"China is willing to strengthen dialogue, exchange and
cooperation with relevant countries that have common interests and
concern in Africa."
Six-party talk
Qin said the six countries are still consulting on whether to
hold a new round of meetings on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue before the end
of the year.
"The date for further meetings should be acceptable to all six
parties and is still under discussion," Qin said.
He said Wu Dawei, head of the Chinese delegation to the
six-party talks, has met with chief US negotiator Christopher Hill
Thursday. Both exchanged views on the present situation and future
work of the six-party talks.
"We also took notice of Mr. Hill's remarks on his trip to North
Korea," Qin added.
He said the Chinese side hopes the six parties will "keep good
momentum, and advance all work leading to the virtual
de-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."
Hill arrived in Beijing on Wednesday after a three-day trip to
North Korea.
He said disablement of North Korea's main nuclear facilities at
Yongbyon, scheduled to be completed by year end, is going well, and
North Korea is "pretty close to providing a declaration". He also
noted that the declaration should be complete and correct.
Hill dismissed chances for a six-party talk to convene before
the end of this year, citing holiday reasons.
Argentine president power handover ceremony
Qin announced Wan Gang, minister of Science and Technology, will
attend the power handover ceremony of Argentine president on Dec.
10 as the special envoy of the Chinese government.
(Xinhua News Agency December 7, 2007)
