At a press conference yesterday in Beijing, Chinese foreign
ministry spokesman Qin Gang stated that China urges the Sudanese
government to be flexible over on the Darfur issue and to consider
a peace plan proposed by former UN Secretary General Kofi
Annan.
Beijing has brought up the affair with Haj Ahmed El Gaili, Chief
of Joint Staff of Sudanese armed forces, currently on an eight-day
visit to China.
Qin reiterated that China wishes to see Darfur experience peace,
stability and a stable economy.
He also said any solutions should not affect Sudan's sovereignty
and unity, and pledged China's support for Annan's peace plan.
China will pursue its constructive role with the international
community to push forward the issue.
Yesterday, Haj Ahmed El Gaili met with Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan with both sides agreeing to
foster friendly cooperation.
El Gaili will later today meet wit Chief of General Staff of the
Chinese People's Liberation Army Liang Guanglie.
Turning to Premier Wen Jiabao's visit next week to the Republic of
Korea and Japan, Qin said the trip will build mutual trust and
bilateral cooperation.
Wen will first travel to Seoul on Tuesday to meet with ROK
President Roh Moo-hyun and Prime Minister Han Myung-sook, Qin said.
He will then fly to Tokyo on Wednesday to meet with Japanese Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe and deliver a speech to the Japanese
Parliament.
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"The premier will take this chance to expound China's stance on the
improvement and development of Sino-Japanese relations and
cooperation between the two countries," said Qin.
Wen's three-day visit to Japan will end with him taking in the
sights of Kyoto, the country's former capital.?
"China hopes the visit will lay out the development of a
mutually beneficial relationship relying on common strategic
interests, improve trade cooperation as well as educational and
cultural exchanges, including those between young people," Qin
said.
China and Japan already have a consensus for moving past
political obstacles, said Qin, adding that handling the historical
issue in a proper manner was key to improving Sino-Japanese
ties.?
Qin expressed his hope that both sides would stick to the path
of "peaceful co-existence, friendship for generations, mutually
beneficial cooperation and common development," appreciate the
current momentum of improvement and use it to build stronger
foundations for friendly cooperation.
On the East China sea issue, Qin dismissed claims that the
differences thereon would influence the overall relationship
between the two nations. He repeated that China advocates pressing
ahead with joint explorations.
The ROK and Japan are both important neighbors of China, Qin
said, adding that "it is of great importance if the three countries
can build good neighborly and friendly relations based on mutual
trust and cooperation."
Addressing Li Zhaoxing's visit to the South Asian
Association Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and China's new observer
status there, Qin said that China will promote exchanges and
cooperation based on the principles of equality, mutual trust and
reciprocal cooperation.
The SAARC is an important organization which plays a pivotal
role in ensuring common development in south Asia.
Qin said that as neighbor of south Asian countries, China will
play a full part in contributing to regional peace, stability as
well as economic and social development.
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing is currently attending the 14th
SAARC summit in New Delhi, representing China's observer
status.
Turning to the Solomon Islands which were hit by a tsunami, Qin
said that the Red Cross Society of China has given emergency
financial aid to its sister association in the Solomon Islands.
China has sent expressed its condolences for the loss and
casualties caused by the earthquake catastrophe in the Solomon
Islands.
A series of earthquakes, the largest measuring close to 8.1 on
the Richter Scale, hit the Western Province of the Solomon Islands
early on Monday morning, with a follow-up tsunami further battering
the island.
At the moment, 20 casualties have been confirmed although the
body count is set to rise.
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Commenting on Ukrainian President Yushchenko's decision to dissolve
the parliament, Qin stated China's call for political and social
stability in Ukraine to be maintained, adding that Yushchenko's
decisions is an internal affair of the Ukraine.?
He said China hopes that the friendly relations between China
and the Ukraine will continue to grow.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree to
dissolve parliament on Monday and ordered a snap parliamentary
election to be held on May 27, moves rejected by the
parliament.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily April 4, 2007)
