The six-party talks on the Korean peninsula nuclear issue should
be continued despite many difficulties in the peace process,
Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing said at a press conference on Sunday. Li was speaking
in the Great Hall of the People on the sidelines of the ongoing
session of the National People's Congress.
China hopes the participants demonstrate flexibility, sincerity
and patience to reopen the talks as soon as possible, said Li. He
urged the US and North Korea to engage in direct talks to increase
mutual trust and understanding.
"No matter how difficult the process is," the top diplomat said,
"China always adheres to the position for making peace and
facilitating the talks in an objective and impartial way."
Li said that China pursues the objective for a nuclear-free,
peaceful and stable Korean peninsula while addressing the
legitimate concerns of North Korea.
In response to a question from an Associated Press reporter
about what steps China would take to "compel" North Korea to return
to the talks, Li pointed out that both the US and North Korea are
sovereign states. The top leaders of North Korea had expressed
their willingness to continue as well as their concerns.
"They remain ready and willing to continue to participate in the
six-party talks," Li said. "They hope the rest of the parties will
display more sincerity."
China's position on the Korean peninsula issue is in line with
its overall stance on foreign relations, which promotes worldwide
peace, prosperity and cooperation.
Li added that the Chinese diplomats have adhered to the
principle of "doing diplomatic work for the people," protecting the
legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens abroad and
handling emergency incidents such as attacks against Chinese
citizens overseas.
Turning to the issue of Taiwan, Li affirmed that it is China's
internal affair and should not be considered within the framework
of the US-Japan security alliance.
Li, who served as ambassador to the US in Washington from 1998
to 2001, called the US-Japan military alliance a "bilateral
arrangement that occurred under special circumstances during the
Cold War" and urged it to "be strictly restricted to a bilateral
nature."
Beyond that, he stated, the US-Japan alliance would definitely
"arouse uneasiness on the part of Asian countries and complicate
the regional security situation."
On the issue of the Diaoyu Islands, the foreign minister said
that China has indisputable, historical and legal sovereignty over
the islands. Problems concerning them should be solved through
talks on the basis of facts and should not affect the healthy
development of the Sino-Japanese ties, he said.
The minister said that "proper conditions and atmosphere" should
be created to facilitate the resumption of the exchange of
high-level visits between China and Japan. Noting that the two
countries' relations had been forged through mutual efforts over a
long period of time, he stated that the results should be cherished
and perpetuated.
Li expressed his belief that China and Pakistan will further
strengthen their bilateral and multilateral relations for the
benefit of their peoples and of regional development and
stability.
Recalling that China and Russia completely resolved their
long-standing border issues last year, Li referred to Sino-Russian
ties as "successful and fruitful." He stated that bilateral
cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, culture, education and
military have been developing steadily.
Turning to Europe, Li said that the maintenance of the European
arms embargo on China is "obsolete and useless."
Li Zhaoxing said that Sino-US relations have been making headway
as the two countries share extensive interests. To ensure healthy
development, a long-term and strategic view should be adopted,
particularly in dealing with the sensitive Taiwan issue.
In other words, it is essential for the two countries to abide
by principles of the Sino-US joint communiques, said the foreign
minister.
On the subject of oil prices, Li pointed out that China is both
an energy consumer and producer and cannot be held responsible for
the world's rising oil prices. He said that the country's energy
demand has increased to certain extent as the country's economy has
been growing rapidly in recent years, but that most of this demand
is to be met domestically.
"Although China's energy imports have increased a little bit
over the past two years, its imports only account for approximately
6 percent of the world's total traded oil," he said.
He added that China has great potential for improving energy
efficiency.
In 2004, 52 heads of state and government of foreign countries
visited China. Top Party and state leaders of China, including
President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao
and Jia Qinglin, chairman of China's top advisory body, the Chinese
People 's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), visited 34
countries around the world.
(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2005)
