Japanese newspaper, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, reported
on Tuesday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
had asked China to arrange a visit for US Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice to Pyongyang in a bid to reach a breakthrough on
nuclear and missile issues.
"This report has a lot of imagination, but no truth at all,"
Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan told a press conference in
Beijing on Tuesday.
Kong also expressed opposition to the proposal of the so-called
"five-party talks," saying that he doesn't think it's a good idea
because "facts have proven that six-party talks are a realistic and
effective way to peacefully resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean
Peninsula."
Recently both the DPRK and the US showed signs of a possible
resumption of talks.
Kong said, "We hope the DPRK and the US can make contact to
enhance mutual trust and understanding."
"We'll welcome and encourage such contact, no matter when and
where it takes place," he added.
Kong also announced Vice Premier Wu Yi's
weeklong visit to Japan, which began yesterday. Wu is scheduled to
meet with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Japanese
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Shoichi Nakagawa, and
attend the China Day segment of the Aichi Expo 2005.
Kong declined to specify topics to be discussed during Wu's
meetings, but analysts said the issues of
Sino-Japanese relations, and the joint development of natural
gas fields in the disputed parts of the East China Sea might be
touched upon.
Relations between China and Japan have worsened following a
series of disputes, including Koizumi's annual visit to the
Yasukuni Shrine, which honors 14 Class-A World War II
criminals.
Koizumi defied public opinion on Monday by saying that he will
continue to make his pilgrimage to the shrine.
"The visit to Yasukuni Shrine is not just a simple question of
holding memorial services for the dead, but it concerns how to
correctly treat history," said Kong, noting that the hands of the
14 Class-A war criminals were tarnished with the "blood of Chinese
and Asian people."
When asked to comment on the annual report released by the US
Commission on International Religious Freedom, Kong said that the
Chinese government protects religious freedom of its citizens
according to law.
The report criticized the situation in some developing
countries, including China.
Kong urged the commission to stop interfering in the internal
affairs of other countries by using religion as a pretext.
Still on diplomatic visits, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas
arrived in Beijing yesterday for a three-day visit. President Hu Jintao
and Premier Wen
Jiabao will hold talks with him, who is expected to brief the
Chinese leaders on the latest development of the Middle East
situation as well as the policies to be taken by Palestine in the
future, according to Kong.
?
The two sides will also discuss how to strengthen their mutually
beneficial cooperation in various sectors, said Kong.
Leaders will sign some agreements after their talks, including
an agreement on economic and technological cooperation, Kong
added.
This is Abbas' first visit to China since he succeeded the late
Yasser Arafat as president of the Palestinian National Authority
following Arafat's death in November last year. Abbas was elected
Palestinian president in January.
Moving on to the Taiwan-related proposal made by San Tome and
Principe to the 58th World Health Assembly (WHA), Kong said: "A few
countries have taken this opportunity to challenge the one-China
policy and conduct secessionist activities."
The World Health Organization (WHO) Constitution and Rules of
Procedure of the WHA stipulate explicitly that WHO membership is
open only to sovereign states, and only sovereign states and their
overseas territories can attend the WHA as observers at the
invitation of the WHO director-general in some prescribed
circumstances.
"Taiwan is neither of these," said Kong.
However, he acknowledged, the central government cares much for
the health of Taiwan people. The frequent cross-Straits exchanges
in the medical and health fields over the years demonstrate that
China can take care of its people.
On May 15, the Ministry of Health and the WHO signed a
memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Taiwan's technical exchanges
with the WHO, according to which the WHO secretariat can invite
medical and public health experts from Taiwan to participate in its
programs and activities, send staff or experts to Taiwan to study
the health and epidemic situation there or provide medical and
public health assistance.
Turning to the bloody riots in Andizhan, Uzbekistan, Kong said
that China is paying close attention to the situation.
"China is delighted to see that the situation in Andizhan has
been stabilized and social order and people's lives are returning
to normal," said Kong.
China?firmly opposes terrorism, separatism and extremism in
any form and will continue to support efforts taken by Uzbekistan
and other countries in the region to safeguard national and
regional security and stability, he added.
Speaking on the UN, Kong said the draft resolution circulated by
Germany, Japan, Brazil and India in relation to UN Security Council
expansion will be "detrimental" to the process of UN reform.
"To take such a move hastily will only intensify
contradictions," said Kong. "There is still a very large gap
between the positions of many countries and the core content of the
draft resolution."
Germany, Japan, Brazil and India, known as the G-4, on Monday
circulated a draft resolution, proposing to give the four countries
permanent seats in the Security Council along with two African
countries.
Kong said China hopes all relevant parties can start from the
overall and long-term interests of the UN and its member states,
follow the stipulations and spirit of the UN Charter, and carry out
extensive and in-depth consultations, so as to push for a
consensus.
Kong also reiterated China's stance on the UN Security Council
reform, saying that China supports it.
He said that the reform would help enhance the authority and
efficiency of the Security Council, and give priority to increasing
representation by developing countries.
He also said reforms should involve giving more opportunities to
middle and small-sized countries to participate in the
decision-making of the UN Security Council and should adhere to the
principle of maintaining a balance among regions, taking into
account the representation of different cultures and
civilizations.
"The Security Council reform is an issue that will affect the
future of the UN and the immediate interests of every country.
Decisions should be made on the basis of extensive discussions and
unanimous agreements," Kong said.?
On China-Vatican relationships, Kong said China hopes to improve
ties with the Vatican, but requires its recognition of the
one-China policy.
Kong urged the Vatican to break ties with Taiwan, as a
precondition for an improvement in relations.
He added that the Vatican should not interfere in China's
internal affairs in the name of religion.
(China Daily, Xinhua News Agency, CRI.com May 18,
2005)