On 24 October, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao had a regular press conference.

Q: Last night a serious hostage-taking incident happened in Moscow.  What is China’s comment?

A: Last night a serious hostage-taking incident happened in Moscow, and the life of hundreds of civilians is severely threatened.  The Chinese side is greatly concerned about that and strongly condemns the plotter of this terrorist incident.  The Chinese Government firmly opposes terrorist activities of any form and believes that the Russian Government is capable of solving this incident smoothly.


Q: Is there any Chinese citizen being taken as hostage in this incident?

A: To my knowledge, this incident happened in a theater.  We are verifying whether there is any Chinese citizen involved.


Q: The US Attorney General Ashcroft formally announced this morning the establishment of a FBI anti-terrorism office in Beijing.  I want to know how China’s security departments, especially anti-terrorism departments will cooperate with the US side in the future?  Is there any new progress in the counter-terrorism cooperation between China and the US?

A: On the first question, I want to correct one thing that it is not the establishment of a FBI office in China, but rather inside the US Embassy in China.  Last February, China and the US agreed to establish a FBI office inside the US Embassy in China after consultation, and China reserves the right to set up a similar office in the US.  This is a positive step by the two countries in law enforcement cooperation, bearing in mind the large picture of anti-terrorism cooperation between China and the US.  We hope and believe that the establishment of the aforementioned US office will help the two countries carry out exchanges and cooperation in the fields of counter-terrorism and law enforcement on the basis of two-way and mutual benefit.

As for the second question, China is opposed to terrorism of all forms and actively supports and participates international anti-terrorism cooperation.  In accordance with the consensus between the two heads of state, China and the US have established a medium- and long-term mechanism of anti-terrorism exchange and cooperation.  Both sides believe that China-US anti-terrorism cooperation is an important part of the international counter-terrorism campaign, and also an important part of the constructive and cooperative cooperation between the two countries.  The two sides will carry out cooperation in this regard in line twith the principles of equal cooperation and two-way mutual benefit.  The wide-ranging medium- and long-term mechanism of anti-terrorism exchange and cooperation between the countries, in which quite a few departments have taken part, has been operating well.

So far China and the US have conducted two rounds of anti-terrorism consultation and both sides are satisfied with the results.  The first one was held in December 2001, when the US State Department Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism Taylor visited China and the two sides had in-depth exchanges of views on issues of international and regional anti-terrorism situation and bilateral cooperation in this regard.  Last June, a Chinese delegation composed of officials from several departments including Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Public Security, State Security, Finance as well as People’s Bank visited Washington and had the second round of consultation with the US to continue exchanging views on issues of common interest.  Additionally, the two sides set up financial counter terrorism working groups, which had the first round of consultation in the US last May.  The Chinese side is willing to strengthen anti-terrorism consultation and cooperation with the relevant parties, the US included.  The third round of consultation between China and the US will be held soon.


Q: What is China’s comment on the new draft resolution on Iraq submitted by the US to the UN Security Council?

A: China’s attitude on the Iraqi issue is very clear.  The UN weapons inspectors should return to Iraq as soon as possible to start work, which is an indispensable step to solve the issue.  The Security Council should decide on the next move according to the result of the inspection.  The Chinese side will seriously consider proposals that help achieve the above-mentioned goal and will maintain contact and consultation with various parties to promote an earlier political solution to the Iraqi issue within the UN framework.


Q: What is China’s comment on the US draft resolution itself?  Does China think it is rigid or ineffective?

A: I think I have made clear China’s position on the Iraqi issue.  The Chinese side will continue to maintain contact and consultation and hopes that the UN Security Council will soon reach agreement on the relevant issue.


Q: What is China’s position on the continued US war against terrorism and its stationing of troops in Afghanistan?

A: We hope that Afghanistan will maintain stability.  At present, the anti-terrorism war in Afghanistan has achieved preliminary victory.  We hope the relevant follow-up actions will eradicate the remaining terrorist forces at an early date to realize lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.


Q: What did they talk when US Attorney General Ashcroft met with Luo Gan and Zhang Fusen?

A: US Attorney General visited Beijing as the guest of the US Embassy in China.  Attorney General Ashcroft and his entourage met with Chinese Justice Minister Zhang Fusen and Vice Minister Fan Fangping at the Ministry of Justice in the morning of 23 October.  In a friendly and sincere atmosphere, the two sides exchanged views on the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of anti-terrorism, fight against organized transnational crimes and legal assistance in criminal matters.  They briefed each other on judicial cooperation in relevant cases and discussed the possibility of further strengthening such cooperation.  State Councilor Luo Gan met with the US delegation this morning and that is all I can provide.


Q: Yesterday Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan had a phone conversation with his French counterpart on Iraq.  Can you tell us the details of the conversation?  Besides we have heard that Chinese Middle East Special Envoy Ambassador Wang Shijie will visit the Middle East in the mid next month.  Can you confirm it?

A: As for the phone conversation between Foreign Minister Tang and his French counterpart, Spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue has already made a briefing to the press.  The two sides exchanged views on the Iraqi issue and the Chinese side expressed its position on it.

The proposed visit by China’s Middle East Special Envoy Ambassador Wang Shijie will fall on early next month.  We hope that through the strengthening of contacts and connections with the relevant parties, we will make positive efforts to defuse the current Middle East tension and push for an early settlement of the Israel-Arab conflict.  At present China is coordinating with the relevant countries on the detailed agenda and arrangement of the visit.


Thank you.