On 29 October, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao held the regular press conference.

Q: The French side called for the UN Security Council meeting on UN weapons inspection in Iraq. The US and Britain officials have been non-committal. Is that something China would be interested in?

A: China's position on the Iraqi Issue is clear-cut. We maintain that the UN weapons inspectors should be readmitted to Iraq to carry our their work at an early date, which is an indispensable step for the solution of this issue. We maintain that it should be up to the UN Security Council to decide the next step according to the outcome of the inspection.

Q: France and Russia has made clear their opposition to the UN Security Council draft resolution raised by the United States on the Iraqi issue. What is China's position on the draft resolution? Do you believe that this draft resolution will bring political resolution to the Iraq crisis or this is not something new for you to consider?

A: China's position on the UN Security Council resolution is that we will take into earnest consideration any draft resolution conducive to the UN weapons inspections on Iraq, conducive to the verification and destruction of the weapons of massive destruction in Iraq, and conducive to the political solution of the Iraqi issue.

Q: The sixteenth National Congress of the CCP will soon be held. What will be the main topics for discussion? Besides, what is your comment on the outcome of the election in Brazil? And what impact it may have on China-Brazil relations?

A: As the foreign ministry spokesperson, I am not authorized to answer your first question.

Regarding the presidential election in Brazil, we would like to congratulate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on his victory. President Jiang Zemin has already sent him a telegram of congratulation. Brazil is a big developing country, and the Chinese government values its friendly relations and cooperation with Brazil. The strategic partnership between the two sides has made substantive progress and will make further headway with the join efforts of the governments of the two countries.

Q: President Jiang Zemin has made a very successful visit to the United States promoting greater development of the China-US relations. What impact will this visit have towards the peace and development of South Asia?

A: President Jiang Zemin has just paid a constructive and fruitful visit to the United States during which he had good talks with President Bush, and had an in-depth exchange of views on China-US relations and major international and regional issues of common interest. Consensus has been reached in not only enhancing cooperation in economy, trade, culture and education etc., but also in maintaining and enhancing high-level strategic exchanges and dialogues between the two countries.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with their counter-terrorism cooperation in the past year and agreed to strengthen such cooperation on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit, and to jointly oppose terrorism in all forms. And the third round of counter-terrorism talks will be held within this year. The two sides also agreed to restore the military-to-military exchanges and to conduct cooperation including the defense consultations at the vice-ministerial level in the near future. In the mean time, the two sides also agreed to establish a consultation mechanism at the vice foreign ministerial level on issues of strategic security, multilateral arms control and non-proliferation.

The two leaders discussed and had a candid exchange of views on the Taiwan issue. President Jiang elaborated on China’s basic position of ‘peaceful reunification, and one country, two systems” for the settlement of the Taiwan issue and emphasized that the separatist activities of the “Taiwan independence” forces constitute the biggest threat to the stability across the Taiwan Straits and to the development of the China-US relations. President Jiang urged the US side to stick to the one-China policy and the three China-US joint communiqués, and to play a constructive role in the peaceful reunification of China. President Bush said that the US side understands the sensitivity of the Taiwan issue, adheres to the one-China policy and is against the independence of Taiwan. The US side appreciates China’s stand on the peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue, and the above policy of the US government will remain unchanged.

The two sides also exchanged views on other issues. As for whether the two sides had touched upon conflicts between India and Pakistan, I don’t have more information in this regard，while China’s stand on this issue is clear to all.

Q: It is reported that China’s Special Envoy on the Middle East will visit the Middle East region from November 6 to 16 and meet with Secretary-general Moussa of the League of Arab States. Could you confirm that?

A: China’s Special Envoy Ambassador Wang Shijie will visit the Middle East from the beginning of November, during which he will have an in-depth exchange of views on the Middle East issue with the parties concerned including Israel and Palestine. As for the specific agenda, I will try to get more information from the relevant departments and will inform you of the latest development in due course.

Q: Just now when you mentioned President Jiang’s visit to the United States, you quoted the Xinhua report that the two heads of state had discussed the Taiwan issue during their meeting. However, according to the report we have read, the original statement made by President Bush is “does not support Taiwan independence” instead of “is against the independence of Taiwan” as you mentioned. Is there any difference between them? Besides, have the two leaders mentioned the arms sales to Taiwan during their meeting?

A: I believe that what you read is from the media report on the remarks made by President Jiang and President Bush in the press briefing after their meeting. I have just briefed about the exchange of views between the Chinese and the US leaders during the meeting and made clear our position. The Chinese side also told the US side in explicit terms that the  Taiwan issue is the most sensitive issue at the core of China-US relations and should be treated with prudence. We attach importance to the US leader’s stand on the Taiwan issue and urge the US side to honor its commitment and to play a constructive role in safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and in realizing the peaceful reunification of China.

Q: It is reported that President Jiang was half an hour’s late on his way to the family ranch of President Bush. Do you know the reason for it?

A: I have not heard the relevant situation. My colleagues accompanying President Jiang’s visit will return to Beijing this evening and I may try to find it out.

Q: The Leaders of China and other economies of APEC have issued a joint statement on counter-terrorism cooperation in Mexico. Does it indicate the US-led campaign against terrorism will further expand to the Muslim countries and other organizations?

A: This year the APEC informal leadership meeting has been concluded in Mexico. The conference finally approved the leaders’ declaration and counter-terrorism declaration. The Chinese side is satisfied with the result of the meeting, which has scored progress in many aspects, including counter-terrorism. All parties agreed to further anti-terrorism cooperation in the economic field, and in the customs, transportation, finance, network and so on, and to create a sound environment for the regional economic development on the basis of the APEC Shanghai meeting last year.

I would like to add that first of all, the counter-terrorism campaign is a global one, winning support from most countries in the world. Second, I would like to reiterate that the fight against terrorism should have concrete evidence and should not be willfully expanded, or be linked with any specific country, ethnic group and religion. As for what you mentioned in your question, the counter-terrorism targets should not be linked with the Muslims.

Q: Today Japan and the DPRK will have talks in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia on the normalization of diplomatic ties. What is the comment of the Chinese side?

A: The Chinese side expresses its pleasure and welcome to the normalization talks between the two countries, which has been suspended for tow years. The two countries are both China’s close neighbors. We have all along supported Japan and the DPRK in improving the bilateral ties and eventually normalizing their diplomatic relations.

Q: Just now you have mentioned that President Bush’s statement on the Taiwan issue in his meeting with President Jiang is different with the statement from the White House. Could you make clear about that? What is the English wording of President Bush?

A: I have just explicitly briefed on the exchange of views between the two sides on the Taiwan issue and the respective position. As for the exact English wording, I can not confirm right now because I am not at the site or in contact with my colleague there. However, from my knowledge, President Bush said that the US side understands the sensitivity of the Taiwan issue, adheres to the one China policy, and is against the independence of Taiwan. The US side appreciates China’s stand on the peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue. In the mean time, and he stresses that the above policy will remain unchanged.

Q: The Xinhua report also mentioned that President Jiang invited President Bush to pay another visit to China, which was not included in the press release of the White House. Could you confirm that?

A: We believe that the press release is issued respectively by the press officers of the two countries. What China introduces to the outside is the true reflection of the meetings. I can also confirm that President Jiang invited President Bush to pay another visit to China in their meetings and President Bush accepted it with pleasure. I can also tell you that Vice President Cheney will pay a formal visit to China early next year at the invitation of Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao. This also marks the continuation of high-level exchanges between the two countries and is of crucial significance for maintaining the high-level strategic dialogue between the two countries.