At a regular news briefing held in Beijing Thursday, Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said that China's sovereignty
over the Nansha Islands and the surrounding waters is
"indisputable."?
Kong made the remark in a reply to claims that certain
countries, which he would not name, had unilaterally invited
international bidding on oil and natural gas exploration in the
South China Sea.
He said China is willing to consult with the relevant parties on
ways of handling the dispute and jointly exploiting the
resources.
Kong noted that China was gravely concerned over the unilateral
oil and natural gas bidding in a disputed area in the South China
Sea, and urged the related countries to correct the wrongdoing to
avoid further complication of the situation there.
Kong also expressed hope that involved international oil
companies would respect China's sovereignty and not take any
actions that may infringe China's sovereignty and its marine rights
and interests.
According to the spokesman, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing
will pay an official visit to the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea (DPRK) from March 23 to 25 at the invitation of DPRK Foreign
Minister Paek Nam-sun.
It is the first official visit in five years paid by a Chinese
foreign minister to the DPRK and it will be an important contact
between the two countries, Kong said.
The two sides will exchange views on Sino-DPRK relations and
regional and international issues that are a concern to both,
including the six-party talks on the nuclear issue in the Korean
Peninsula, he added.
Kong also said that Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban
Ki-moon of the Republic of Korea (ROK) will pay an official visit
to China from March 28 to 30 at the invitation of Li.
Moving on to the Korean nuclear issue, the spokesman said that
establishing a working group as soon as possible is "indispensable"
for the third round of six-party talks to make substantial
progress.
Kong said the working group could hold comprehensive discussions
on the topics, agenda, discussion approach and other possible
issues at a lower level under the six-party talks in order to
ensure the third round talks continue to make progress.
"I hope the six parties can closely work together to accomplish
the mission", Kong added.
According to Kong, China maintains contacts with relevant
parties after the second six-party talks in February and has
delivered documents on a possible working arena and discussion
topics for the working group to the other five countries
concerned.
The discussions and exchange of views achieved positive outcomes
and China hopes the working group could be set up as soon as
possible so as to build a solid foundation for the third round of
six-party talks, Kong noted.
Kong said China also hopes the parties concerned would continue
to uphold firm political commitments while show flexibility on
specific issues to enlarge consensus and narrow differences for
progress in peaceful solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean
Peninsula.
Speaking of an ROK citizen who has been in prison in China due
to charges of organizing illegal border crossings, Kong said the
man, Seok Jae-hyun, will be released today.
The man was sentenced last May. In light of the friendship
between China and the ROK and through certain judiciary means, it
has been decided that the man can be released ahead of the usual
time.
However, Kong stressed, the release does not change the fact
that Seok committed a crime.
He said ROK citizens are welcome to come to China to tour, do
business and study, but added that all should abide by Chinese
law.
He reiterated that the Chinese government deals with illegal
border crossers according to domestic law, international law and
the humanitarian principles.
But any organizers of illegal border crossing will be punished
in China, Kong added.
At the briefing Kong also announced that the 60th session of the
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) of
the United Nations (UN) will be held in Shanghai from April 22 to
28.
Prior to the session, the Special Body on Pacific Island
Developing Countries (PIDCs), an ESCAP subordinate body, will hold
its eighth meeting from April 20-21, Kong said.
Themed "meeting the challenges in an era of globalization by
strengthening regional development cooperation", the session will
cover a wide range of topics, including regional economic and
social situation, poverty reduction, globalization and social
issues.
"It is of special significance for ESCAP to hold its 60th
session at its birth place," said Kong, adding that China was
looking forward to working jointly with all parties concerned to
ensure the session was a great success.
The Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE), the
fore-runner of ESCAP, was founded in Shanghai in 1947.
ESCAP is the longest-standing inter-governmental multilateral
economic and social development organization in Asia and the
Pacific region with the widest representation.
In the past decades, ESCAP has served as an important channel
for its members to exchange experience and expand cooperation, and
has played an important role in promoting the economic and social
development in the region.
According to Kong, Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong, State
Councilor Tang Jiaxuan will attend the opening ceremony. Former
Vice Premier Qian Qichen will attend the High Level Visionary
Meeting for Asia and the Pacific 2020. Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing
will head a Chinese delegation to the session and will also serve
as the chairman.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will attend the opening ceremony
and all 62 members and associate members will send their
ministerial or high-level delegations to the session.
In addition, an international conference on the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) is to be held from March 25 to 27 in
Beijing, the spokesman announced.
The conference will be jointly held by the Chinese Foreign
Ministry and offices of UN organizations in China.
Kong said Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan will attend the
opening of the conference and deliver a speech.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will send a representative to
the meeting, Kong said. Participants will include representatives
from the Chinese and foreign governments, international
organizations, academic organizations and business communities from
home and overseas, Kong said.
Participants will share experience involving the Millennium
Development Goals and explore ways for cooperation, Kong said.
The MDGs grew out of a gathering of 189 world leaders at the
United Nations in September 2000, when attendees proclaimed the
Millennium Declaration.
This statement gave voice to the values shared by all member
nations and resulted in a commitment by those nations to halve
global poverty by 2015.
The eight MDGs are: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger,
achieve universal primary education, promote gender equality and
empower women, reduce child mortality, improve material health,
combat HIV/ AIDS, malaria and other diseases, ensure environmental
sustainability, and develop a global partnership for
development.
Also at the briefing Kong reiterated China's stance on the Iraq
issue.
Kong said the Chinese government holds that international
disputes and conflicts should be resolved through dialogue or other
political way and under the framework of the UN Security Council,
which is responsible for world peace and stability.
Kong said practice in the past year has proved that China's
stance is right.
The situation in Iraq did not improve in the past year, with
bombing attacks constantly happening recently, Kong said, adding
that the international community including the Chinese government
and people showed deep concern over the current situation in
Iraq.
He expressed the hope that Iraq resume stability, realize "Iraqi
people governing Iraq" and start reconstruction work as soon as
possible, so as to allow the Iraqi people to live a peaceful and
stable life, which is also the common desire of the international
community, Kong said.
(Sources including Xinhua News Agency and China Daily, March 19,
2004)