The United States and Albania should repatriate the five
'Eastern Turkistan' terrorist suspects as quickly as possible,
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said at Tuesday's
regular press conference in Beijing.
The US government announced last Saturday it had freed five
Chinese Uygur Muslims from the Guantanamo Bay detention center and
allowed them to go to Albania as refugees.
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"The five people accepted by Albania are by no means refugees but
'Eastern Turkistan' terrorist suspects," Liu said.
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"I think they should be repatriated to China," Liu said. "The
actions of the US and Albanians are a gross violation of
international law and a UN resolution. We are strongly opposed to
this.
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"We have made strong representations and urged them to repatriate
the five terrorist suspects to China as soon as possible," he
said.
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The 'Eastern Turkistan' people were part of an international
terrorist grouping which had close contacts with Al Qaida and
Taliban, he said.
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He added that strengthening international cooperation in combating
terrorism was in the best interests of China and other countries.
Liu said he hoped those involved could? strengthen such
cooperation and not allow it to weaken.
With respect to Sino-Japanese relations, Liu said the two sides
agreed to hold a fifth round of talks on the East China Sea issues
in mid May.
Earlier this year Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Qin Gang,
said the two countries have disputes over the demarcation of the
East China Sea with China's view being that such disputes should be
handled through consultations.
Early reports said Japan would never accept China's suggestion
on jointly exploring potential resources in the East China Sea. It
was also suggested that Japan may take confrontational measures if
China conducted oil and gas exploration in the East China Sea.
China on April 21 once again stressed that it didn't accept
Japan's unilateral claim of the so-called "median line" in the East
China Sea.
Liu said Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and Japanese
Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shotaro Yachi, who headed the two
delegations, discussed the possibility of a meeting between the two
Foreign Ministers.
Jin Linbo, a professor with the China Institute of International
Studies, said results of the strategic dialogue, the fifth in a
year, sent out a positive signal against the backdrop of strained
China-Japan ties.
"Such a mechanism works as an important channel for the two
countries which have no high-level contacts to exchange ideas," he
said.
Since October 2004 the two countries have convened four rounds
of consultations on? East China Sea issues. The last round of
talks were held in Beijing in March this year.
Spokesman Liu said previous talks showed that China and Japan
were still greatly divided on East China Sea issues and the
situation was "rather complicated".
Despite great differences Liu said China and Japan were still
willing to solve problems through consultation and to find a final
solution.
"Such consultations are helpful," he said.
On the possible meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing and his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso on the sidelines of
the Asia Cooperation Dialogue to be held in Qatar on May 23 and 24,
Liu declined to give a clear answer, simply saying, "It would
depend on the result of consultation."
Leaders of the two countries have suspended exchanges since
Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro began paying homage at
the controversial Yasukuni war shrine soon after he took office in
2001. The two Foreign Ministers have rarely had contact.
Liu said China had taken the opportunity to elaborate its
position on bilateral ties and urged Japan to work with China to
remove the political obstacles which prevented ties from
improving.
He said Vice-Foreign Minister Dai pointed out that Japan should
take corresponding measures to work with China to reach the common
goal.
The Chinese government on Tuesday pledged that if elected to the
UN Human Rights Council it would help reinforce efforts to promote
and protect human rights worldwide.
Sixty-four countries, including China, are in the running for
the 47 seats on the new UN Human Rights Council in Tuesday's
election at the UN General Assembly.
"The Chinese government has always been dedicated to the
promotion and protection of human rights and basic freedoms and has
participated in international dialogue and cooperation on human
rights," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said.
Liu said the government supported the Council's efforts in
handling human rights issues fairly, objectively and impartially
and in promoting constructive dialogue and cooperation among
different civilizations, cultures and religions.
Under UN rules, to ensure true global representation, Africa and
Asia will each have 13 seats; Latin America and the Caribbean eight
seats; Western Europe (including the North American and Oceanian
developed nations) seven and Eastern Europe six.
On the Iranian nuclear issue Liu said diplomatic means remained
the best option for a solution of the issue.
"The Iranian nuclear issue now stands at a critical moment,"
said Liu. "We urge all parties concerned to remain sober-minded,
patient and restrained, show flexibility and refrain from worsening
the situation." Diplomatic talks were in the interests of all?
concerned, Liu acknowledged.
Liu also reiterated that the Chinese government had always
disapproved of the use of sanctions or force in international
affairs. The Chinese side hoped that the relevant parties would go
on taking a constructive attitude and resolve the Iranian nuclear
issue peacefully by diplomatic means.
Last Wednesday, France and Britain backed by the United States,
proposed a new draft resolution to the UN Security Council
demanding Iran suspend all enrichment activities immediately or
face possible sanctions.
The draft invokes Chapter Seven of the UN Charter, under which
the council can resort to economic and diplomatic sanctions or even
military action, to ensure its decisions are implemented.
After intensive discussions on Monday the foreign ministers of
China, the United States, Russia, Britain, France and Germany
failed to reach agreement on the draft UN resolution.
Liu also announced on Tuesday that foreign ministers of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a five-year-old,
six-member regional organization, would gather in Shanghai next
Monday for their annual meeting.
"The foreign ministers will attend the regular meeting of the
SCO Foreign Ministers' Council which will pave the way for the SCO
summit scheduled for mid June in Shanghai," Liu said.
"The foreign ministers will discuss how to deepen SCO
cooperation in all fields and confer on international and regional
issues of common concern," the spokesman said.
Dubbed a new model of regional cooperation the SCO is made up of
China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan.
On state visits, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will pay official visits to Mexico,
the Bahamas, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain
from May 17 to 25. He will also stop over in Mauritania.
During his visit to Mexico and Qatar, Li will attend the second
meeting of the China-Mexico Permanent Bi-national Commission and
the fifth FM meeting of Asia Cooperation Dialogue respectively, the
spokesman said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Viktorovich Lavrov will pay an
official visit to China on May 15 and 16.
Liu said Lavrov would attend a regular meeting of the Foreign
Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries
which was scheduled for May 15 in Shanghai.
Chinese leaders and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing would meet with
Lavrov for an exchange of views on bilateral ties and international
and regional issues of common interest.?
Tajikistan Foreign Minister Talbak Nazarov would pay an official
visit to China from May 11 to 18 as a guest of his Chinese
counterpart Li Zhaoxing, Liu said.
During his stay in China, the spokesman said, Nazarov would
attend the annual meeting of the Foreign Ministers' Council of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) which is slated for May 15
in Shanghai.
(Xinhua News Agency May 10, 2006)