China has delivered the first shipment of 50,000 tons of heavy
oil aid it had pledged to North Korea and the rest is being
sourced, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular
press conference on Tuesday.
The first shipment arrived in the Nampo port of North Korea on
September 16, said Jiang.
North Korea, under a joint document issued at the six-party talks on February 13, should declare
all nuclear programs and disable all existing nuclear facilities in
exchange for a total of 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil or
equivalent aid, with the initial shipment of 50,000 tons.
South Korea delivered 6,200 tons in July 15, sooner after which
North Korea announced its shutdown of the Yongbyon reactor, a
widely regarded substantial step, after a 10-member team of UN
inspectors arrived in the capital Pyongyang to verify and monitor
the reactor sealing.
"We consider it necessary for the six parties to reconvene at a
proper time. Date for next-phase nuclear talks should be decided by
all parties concerned," Jiang said. "China is consulting with the
relevant parties on the dates for the next phase of six party
talks."
North Korean Vice Foreign Minister in charge of Chinese and
Asian affairs Kim Yong-il reportedly arrived in Beijing on Tuesday
morning.
Jiang said Kim's visit was "according to exchange plans between
Chinese and North Korean foreign ministries."
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his deputy Wu Dawei will meet
him. Beside Beijing Kim will also visit other Chinese cities, Jiang
said.
Talks on East China Sea
China and Japan will hold the 10th round of talks on East China
Sea issue in late September in Beijing, said Jiang, adding the date
has not yet been decided.
She said China will, in accordance with the agreement reached by
the leaders of the two countries, continue to push forward the
momentum of consultation with a pragmatic attitude.
"We hope Japan would make joint effort with China," She
said.
The 9th round of talks was held in Tokyo in June. The two sides
made in-depth discussions and exchanged views on the joint
development of the gas and oil resources.
China-India border issue
China and India will hold the 11th meeting between the special
representatives to discuss the border issue from September 24 to 26
in Beijing.
Special Representative of India and National Security Advisor M
K Narayanan will attend the meeting at the invitation of Chinese
Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo, who will head the Chinese
delegation, said Jiang.
"China will work with India, in accordance with the political
guideline reached by the two countries, to find a reasonable, fair
and all-accepted solution (on the border issue) through
consultations," Jiang said.
She said China would like to make joint effort with India to
push forward strategic and cooperative partnership.
Germany's contact with Dalai Lama
China warned Germany not to receive the Dalai Lama and avoid any
official contact with him, Jiang said in responding to a question
concerning German Chancellor Angela Merkel's intended meeting with
the Dalai Lama later this month in Berlin.
"We have very clear stance on the Dalai Lama issue," Jiang said,
noting Tibet is a part of China and the Tibet issue belongs to
China's internal affairs.
"The Dalai Lama is not simply a religious figure. Underneath the
disguise of religion, he is a long-time political exile engaged in
splittist activities," she said.
The Chinese government is firmly against any official contact of
foreign officials with the Dalai Lama, the spokesperson said.
FM to attend UN meeting, consult African diplomats, visit
US
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will attend the 62nd Session of the
UN General Assembly, the political consultation of foreign
ministers between China and African countries and visit the US from
September 19 to 29, Jiang said.
Yang will deliver a speech at the General Debate of the UN
General Assembly and attend a number of multilateral activities,
including the UN High-level Meeting on Climate Change and the
Summit of the Security Council members on the African issue. He
will also meet with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, President of
the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly Srgjan Kerim and other
leaders and foreign ministers, according to Jiang.
On the sideline of the UN General Assembly, Yang will hold
political consultation with foreign ministers of friendly African
countries on September 26 so as to exchange views on the
implementation of achievements of the Beijing Summit, the promotion
of the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership as well as
international and regional issues of common interest, Jiang
said.
Yang will also visit the US, meet with leaders of the US
government to discuss the bilateral relations and important
international and regional issues of mutual interest, Jiang
said.
Assistant FM to attend high-level consultation on Darfur
issue
Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai Jun will attend the second
high-level consultation on Darfur issue slated for September 21 in New
York, Jiang said.
The forthcoming meeting aims to address Darfur's political
process, peace-keeping actions, security and humanitarian situation
as well as reconstruction.
Jiang said that China has all along maintained the stance of
fully respecting Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and
stuck to settling the Darfur issue through equal consultation and
peaceful means.
China suggests the international community make best of the
coordinating mechanism among the Sudanese government, the UN and
the AU, and push forward the peace-keeping and political process in
a balanced way, she said.
Jiang also called on the international community to help improve
the humanitarian and security situation in Darfur in a bid to
achieve lasting peace and stability of the region.
Iran nuclear issue
Negotiation is the best way to resolve the Iran's nuclear issue and it conformed to the
common interest of the international community, Jiang said when
commenting on the recent report of the IRNA news agency on French
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner's warning that the world should
brace for a possible war over the Iranian crisis.
"We don't agree with threat by force randomly in the
international affairs," Jiang said.
She added China has always held that nations should respect each
other, and dialogue and consultation are needed to promote trust
and reduce difference.
In another development, Jiang announced that South African
Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will pay an official visit
to China from September 23 to 26 at the invitation of Vice
President Zeng Qinghong. Mlambo-Ngcuka will co-chair with
Zeng the third meeting of the China-South Africa Bi-National
Commission during her stay in China.
Deputy Prime Minister of Finance and for Tertiary Education of
New Zealand Michael Cullen will pay an official visit to China from
September 23 to 26 at the invitation of Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan.
(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2007)
