On 15 October, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhang Qiyue had a regular press conference. She made the announcements of Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan’s attending 14th APEC ministerial meeting and the coming visit by Croatian Speaker to China.

Q: How many Hong Kong and Taiwan people were injured in the blasts in the Bali Island, Indonesia? Are there any Mainland citizens injured?  What has the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia done in this regard?

A: China is always opposed to terrorism of all forms.  We strongly condemn this violent activity and would like to express deep sympathy for victims of Indonesia and other countries and their relatives.

Chinese leaders have already sent a telegraph of comfort to Indonesian leaders and expressed that China would support the Indonesian Government in its efforts to fight against terrorism.

The Chinese Embassy in Indonesia has been closely following this incident and has already sent consular officers to the Bali Island to learn the casualty facts of Chinese citizens, residents of Hong Kong and Macao as well as Taiwan compatriots. According to the hospitalization list provided by the Indonesian police, one Mainland citizen was injured and consular officers of the Chinese Embassy have already went to see him.

The Chinese Embassy in Indonesia will continue to follow this incident and is now trying to learn the conditions of Chinese citizens there through various channels and offer any necessary assistance.  

Q: Today, five Japanese who were kidnapped by the North Korea returned home and what is China’s comment?

A: Both DPRK and Japan are close neighbors of China and we welcome the improvement of bilateral relations between the two countries. We believe that the improvement and normalization of Japan-DPRK relations serve the regional peace and stability and we hope that some specific issues between them can be properly settled through dialogues and negotiations.  

Q: Recently Nepal formed an interim government. How do you comment on this?

A: The Chinese Government would like to express congratulations on the establishment of the Nepali Interim Government and the Chinese leaders have already sent a telegraph of congratulation. China respects the choice by the Nepali people.  We believe that the Nepali Government and people are able to restore domestic peace and stability, maintain social stability and enjoy economic growth. China is willing to continuously consolidate and deepen the generations-long good-neighborly and friendly partnership with Nepal on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

Q: Pakistan held the general election on 10 October and how do you comment on this?

A: As a friendly neighbor of Pakistan, we rejoice at its general election that has proceeded smoothly. China always values the development of an all-round cooperative partnership with Pakistan and believes that with the joint efforts by the two governments and peoples, the China-Pakistan relations will surely continue to move forward.  

Q: Is China concerned about the rise of the fundamentalist party in Pakistan? And the US and Pakistan will stage a joint military exercise this week. What is your comment on this?

A: I have said that we are glad to see the smooth general election of Pakistan. We also believe that with the joint efforts of the Pakistani government and people, the country will maintain social stability and economic growth.

As for the second question, this military exercise is held against the general background of anti-terrorism and we hope that such activity will be conducive to peace and stability of the region and the world at large.

Q: Can you tell us something about the North Korean delegation that started visit in China today? Who will meet with them and what are the main topics?

A: The visit to China by the DPRK delegation with Mr. Yang Hyong Sop as the head starts from today.  They arrived in Beijing this morning and Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan has met with Mr. Yang Hyong Sop and the whole delegation this noon.  This visit is at the invitation of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and the State Council, and Chinese leaders will meet with the delegation. It will also visit Shanghai. This is a good-will visit to China by DPRK and we are convinced that it will promote the further development of the traditional friendship between the two countries.

Q: Would you please tell us something about the discussion on the Iraqi issue between President Jiang and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan during his visit in China? Have the two sides reached any agreement?

A: This is the fifth visit by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to China and yesterday President Jiang and Foreign Minister Tang met with him.  Vice President Hu Jintao and Vice Premier Qian Qichen will also have meeting with him today. During the meeting, President Jiang and Secretary-General Kofi Annan had broad and in-depth exchanges of views on international situations and the role of the UN, and I think you may have seen the reports by Chinese media. On the Iraqi issue, President Jiang underlined that peace is the most valuable, which is our consistent position and we hope that the Iraqi issue can have a political solution.  As for whether there is any agreement between China and the Secretary-General during this visit, it should be said that both sides stand for the political and diplomatic settlement of the issue and lay special emphasis on the leading role of the UN and its Security Council on the Iraqi issue. Both sides have expressed willingness to maintain contact and connection on Iraq and other international issues of common interest.

Q: What is China’s view on the “two-step” approach on the Iraqi issue? Last month, the Chinese and Japanese Governments dug out the chemical weapons abandoned by the Japanese army in Heilongjiang province, but there are still more than 600 thousand pieces of chemical weapons left in the mountainous area in Jilin province. There are now doubts in Japan on whether all the chemical weapons could be cleared by the time limit of 2007. What is China’s comment?

A: The position of China on Iraq has always been consistent. We hold that firstly a political and diplomatic solution within the UN framework should be found and the imperative is to readmit UN weapons inspectors to Iraq as soon as possible and submit a report to the Security Council.  Afterwards the UN Security Council should decide on the next step.

On the second question, recently China and Japan dug out the abandoned chemical weapons in Heilongjiang province. The two sides have had good cooperation and the problem was well solved. As you have mentioned, apart from Heilongjiang Province, there are also chemical weapons abandoned by Japan during the World War Two found in some other provinces. We hope that the Japanese side will attach great importance to the harm caused by this issue to the Chinese people, and handle and solve it as soon as possible according to the relevant documents and regulations signed by the two countries.

Q: The US had a new missile defense test today. What is China’s comment on this?

A: Our position on this issue has been consistent.  

Q: Will the discussion between China and the North Korean delegation that arrived today cover the issue of North Korean illegal immigrants entering foreign embassies?

A: As I have just said, this delegation has just arrived in Beijing this morning. So the visit has just started and it is difficult for me to guess their topics. What I want to underline is that it is a good-will visit and we believe it will further promote the traditional relations between the two countries. As for the details of the visit, I will update you next time.  

Thank you.