China urged Sudanese authorities to take substantial measures to
ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and citizens in the
African country, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qin Gang said on
Thursday at a regular press conference.
"Any threats or attacks on Chinese institutions and people in
Sudan are unacceptable," Qin said in response to questions
concerning a reported rebel attack on a Chinese-run oilfield on
Tuesday.
Friendly relations between China and Sudan were based on mutual
respect, equality, mutual benefits and development, and they have
facilitated Sudan's economic development and brought substantive
benefits to its people, Qin stressed.
Chinese companies in Sudan are actively engaged in local public
causes and contribute to the country's economy and social
development, he added.
Press reports said that rebels attacked a Chinese-invested
oilfield in Sudan on Tuesday. The Sudanese military claimed about
20 rebels attacked an army camp near an oil facility but said the
attack had been repelled.
Chinese, S Korean nuclear chiefs meet
Vice Foreign Minister and chief delegate to the six-party talks Wu Dawei met in Beijing on
Thursday with his South Korean counterpart Chun Young-woo. Both
sides exchanged views on the current six-party talks process and
the following work plan, Qin said.
The meeting of the working group on economic and energy
cooperation concluded in Beijing on Wednesday. Qin said all parties
discussed the economic and energy assistance plan for North Korea
and many important consensus points have been agreed.
"With joint efforts from all sides, positive outcomes have
emerged in the six-party talks process, and the disablement of the
Yongbyon nuclear facilities is going smoothly," Qin said.
"All parties are keeping close contact in pushing forward the
process and we also expect continuous efforts to implement the
agreement in an all-round way," he added.
Nanjing Massacre
China reiterated its principle of "taking history as a mirror
and looking forward to the future" as the country mourned the
victims of the Nanjing Massacre by the Japanese 70 years ago.
"We commemorate the day, to ponder upon the past, which can
provide guidance in days to come, to take history as a mirror and
look forward to the future, and to cherish peace," said Qin.
He invited the press corps to observe a moment of silence with
him for those killed in the Nanjing Massacre before he
answered.
He said China hoped that this spirit would permeate, from
beginning to end, the development of China-Japan relations, and
inspire the two sides to continuously draw lessons from history, in
a bid to cherish the good momentum of the improvement and
development of China-Japan relations.
He urged joint efforts to continuously develop friendship
between China and Japan and enhance cooperation, so as to promote
the development of friendly relations for generations.
Bells tolled in Nanjing as nearly 10,000 people gathered
Thursday in the eastern China city at 10:00 a.m. to commemorate the
300,000 lives lost to Japanese forces 70 years ago.
The Japanese occupied Nanjing, then capital of China, on Dec.13,
1937, and began a six-week massacre. More than 300,000 people,
including unarmed soldiers, civilians, women and children, were
killed, according to historical records.
Macedonia, Greece name dispute
"China holds a consistent and clear stance on the name issue of
Macedonia," Qin said, when asked to comment on a prolonged dispute
between Macedonia and Greece over the country name.
Qin said China hopes the dispute will be appropriately settled
through consultation, as such a settlement will favor development
of neighborly ties and the sustained peace and stability of the
Balkan region.
"The Chinese side supports solutions reached by the two
countries," he added.
The name dispute between Macedonia and Greece broke out shortly
after Macedonia gained independence from former Yugoslavia in 1991.
Greece has said the country's name, the Republic of Macedonia,
implies a territorial claim over the northern Greek province of
Macedonia and could destabilize the region.
Instead, it has asked Macedonia to use the name "Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia" (FYROM), under which the country joined the
United Nations in 1993. Otherwise, Greece would block Macedonia's
NATO and EU aspirations.
UN special envoy Matthew Nimetz announced last week that a new
round of meetings between the two countries' negotiators are set to
take place early next year in their respective capitals, with the
first to be held in Skopje and the second in Athens shortly
thereafter.
Donors conference for Palestinians
Sun Bigan, China's special envoy on the Middle East issue, will attend a donors
conference for the Palestinians to scheduled for Dec. 17 in Paris
as the representative for Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.
Sun will also visit Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Syria after
the conference, Qin announced.
Visit of Micronesian president
President of the Federated States of Micronesia Emanuel Mori
will pay a state visit to China from Dec. 16 to 22 at the
invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Qin announced.
Visit of Senegalese FM
State Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic
of Senegal Cheikh Tidiane Gadio will pay an official visit to China
from Dec. 18 to 22 at the invitation of Foreign Minister Yang
Jiechi, Qin announced.
(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2007)
