China is doing all it can to bring an end to the hijacking of
two Korean fishing vessels off the coast of Somalia on Tuesday,
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told the press yesterday,
adding that Chinese authorities were liaising with other countries
to secure the safe release of the Korean crew members.
An unidentified armed group, believed to be Somali pirates,
boarded and captured the Yemen-bound fishing trawlers christened
Mavuno I and Mavuno II.
The 22 crew members, including 10 Chinese, were aboard the ships
owned by South Korea's Daechang Fishing Company when the attack
happened on Tuesday about 210 nautical miles (about 389 km) off the
Somali capital of Mogadishu.
As for the Dalai Lama, Jiang reiterated a call for all
governments and parties to beware his words and actions and to
offer no help for his separatist inclinations as reports emerged
that the Dalai Lama was set to visit the Australian capital,
Canberra, from June 6 to 16, where he might meet with Prime
Minister John Howard.?
The Dalai Lama's words and actions demonstrate that he is not
only a religious figure but a political leader of a certain
separatist group, said Jiang.
The Dalai Lama represents forces advocating Tibet's
"independence," which is resolutely opposed by the central
government and people, stated the spokesperson, as reports surfaced
earlier this week that a Tibet "independence" group has expressed
an interest in competing in the Beijing Olympic Games next year.
Jiang's reaction was firm, saying that "the Chinese people and
government are devoted to the preparation for the Olympic Games in
2008.We are opposed to attempt to link the Olympic Games with
politics."
Asked to comment on former French President Jacques Chirac's
contribution to Sino-French relationship, Jiang hailed Chirac as an
old friend of China who contributed highly to bilateral ties during
his 12 years in office. She added that China would strive to push
forward the strategic partnership with Nicolas Sarkozy's new
government.
Turning to the annual board meetings of the African Development
Bank (ADB) in Shanghai, Jiang highlighted that China-Africa
cooperation is a cornerstone of China's foreign policy.
"China's assistance to Africa is sincere and without political
conditions. We would like to work with the international community
to promote cooperation with Africa," Jiang said. "The development
of Africa will rely on the continent's own strength but will be
greatly accelerated with help from the international community,"
she said.
Currently, five African nations have no diplomatic relations
with China, but Jiang highlighted that this has not affected
personnel exchanges with China. China stands ready to normalize
relations with these nations at any point, based on the five
principles of peaceful coexistence, Jiang said. The five countries
in question are: Burkina Faso, Malawi, Gambia, Sao Tome and
Principe, and Swaziland.
Turning to the search for the 16 missing sailors after the
collision between a Korean vessel and a Chinese freighter on
Saturday, Jiang said the investigation is still ongoing.
The South Korean ship Golden Rose sank off the coast east
China's Shandong Province, after colliding with the
Saint Vincent-registered "Jinsheng," a container ship operated by
Shandong Lufeng Shipping Company Ltd.
Jiang said the Chinese government has launched a massive
search-and-rescue operation and has invited South Korean elements
to join the mission.
Addressing civil unrest in Pakistan, Jiang said the Chinese
government believes that the Pakistani officials and people will be
able to properly stem the violence in their country.
?
Rival political factions fought in the streets of Karachi on May 12
when the suspended but popular chief justice arrived in the city,
leaving 30 dead and scores wounded.
"China, as Pakistan's friendly neighboring nation, is closely
monitoring the current situation in Pakistan," Jiang said.
In another development, Jiang touched upon Vice Foreign Minister
Wu Dawei's with Kyoko Nakayama, assistant to the Japanese prime
minister in Beijing on Thursday, specifying that the two discussed
bilateral ties and the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.
?
Jiang said Kyoko was invited by the Japanese embassy in China and
she is also set to meet Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo late on
Thursday.
The North Korean Foreign Ministry on Tuesday repeated that it
would fully implement the February 13 agreement once it had
received all the US$25 million frozen in Macao's Banco Delta
Asia.
Jiang called once again upon all parties to make sure the
initial actions of the February 13 agreement are swiftly
implemented, to show their willingness at securing a nuclear-free
Korean Peninsula.
Jiang also revealed that that German President Horst Koehler
would pay an official viist to China from May 23 to 26 at the
invitation of President Hu Jintao.
Furthermore, Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs and European
Integration Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has accepted Foreign Minister
Yang Jiechi's invitation to come to China from
May 20 to 23.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily May 18, 2007)
