Cablegate: Corrected Copy: September 18 Mfa Press Briefing

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SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY: SEPTEMBER 18 MFA PRESS BRIEFING

1. Key points at the September 18 MFA Press Briefing were:

-- No new date has been set for the Six-Party Talks.

-- The Chinese government opposes the Dalai Lama's meeting
with German Chancellor Merkel.

-- China and Japan will hold consultations on the East China
Sea in late October.

-- The first shipment of 50,000 tons of Chinese heavy oil has
arrived in North Korea.

-- Assistant Foreign Minister (AFM) Zhai Jun will lead the
Chinese delegation for high-level consultations on Darfur on
September 21 in New York.

-- FM Yang Jiechi will lead the Chinese delegation to UN
talks on climate change on September 24.

-- VISITS: Indian Special Envoy Menon is visiting China and
met with FM Yang Jiechi and AFM He Yafei. DPRK Vice Foreign
Minister for Asian Affairs Kim Yong Il is visiting China and
met with FM Yang Jiechi and Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei.
Vice President Zeng Qinghong will meet with South African
Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka December 23-26 for
the third meeting of the China-South Africa Bi-National
Commission.

Six Party Talks
---------------

2. At the September 18 regular MFA press briefing,
spokeswoman Jiang Yu said that the Chinese government is
consulting with other participants in the Six-Party Talks to
set a new date for talks to begin Asked to clarify when
U.S. State DepartmentAssistant Secretary Christopher Hill
would reurn to China, she advised the journalist to check
with Hill himself.

German Chancellor's Meeting With Dalai Lama
-------------------------------------------
3. Responding to a request for comment on the Dalai Lama's
planned meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Jiang
emphasized that Tibet is a part of China and that the Dalai
Lama is not merely a religious figure, but a political force
involved in efforts to split the motherland. The Chinese
government hopes that other countries recognize these
"splittist" activities and further hopes that no country,
including Germany, will meet with the Dalai Lama.

East China Sea Consultations
----------------------------
4. When asked about the upcoming Chinese-Japanese talks on
the East China Sea, Jiang replied that the talks are slated
for late October, but no specific date has yet been set. She
added that China is maintaining a pragmatic and optimistic
viewpoint and is looking forward to continued work with Japan
on this issue.

Heavy Oil Shipments to DPRK
---------------------------
5. In response to a question on the Chinese shipment of
50,000 tons of heavy oil to North Korea, Jiang said that the
delivery is "under implementation," and that the first ship
had arrived at Nampo on September 16. She later clarified
that the shipment is underway, but not yet complete. Jiang
said she "hoped it would conclude soon."

Darfur Consultations in New York
--------------------------------
6. Jiang said AFM Zhai Jun will lead China's delegation to
the second high-level consultations on Darfur in New York.
During the consultations, China plans to discuss the
political situation, human rights, security, development,
reconstruction and the need to respect Sudanese sovereignty
while finding a political means to realize peace and
stability via the tripartite mechanism of the African Union,
the UN and the Sudanese government.

Climate Change
--------------
7. FM Yang Jiechi will lead China's delegation to the
September 24 UN High-Level Event on climate change. China
fully supports the objectives of this meeting and looks
forward to multilateral negotiations within the UN framework,
which will increase cooperation and be good for the
negotiations.

Chinese-Indian Relations
------------------------
8. Asked to comment on Indian Foreign Minister Mukherjee's
remarks on the importance of China to India and that both

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countries have "enough space for common development," Jiang
said the Foreign Ministry has taken note of the comments and
that China is striving to move forward in a strategic
partnership with India. Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo
and Indian Special Representative and National Security
Advisor M. K. Narayanan will meet in China for the eleventh
time September 24-26, during which time both countries will
seek solutions to problems which are "acceptable to both
countries, according to the relevant principles." She also
said Menon had met with Yang Jiechi and He Yafei to exchange
views on bilateral issues and issues of common interest.

France's Fighting Words on Iran
-------------------------------
9. Asked for comment on French Foreign Minister Bernard
Kouchner's recent comments that the international community
must "prepare for the worst," with Iran, Jiang said that
countries must respect one another to resolve their
differences, and that a government-negotiated peaceful
settlement is the best means. She said China opposes the use
of force in international affairs.

Aid to DR Congo
---------------
10. In response to a question about rumors of China's
providing USD5 billion in aid to the Democratic Republic of
Congo, Jiang replied that she too had heard the rumors and
would check on them.

DPRK Vice Foreign Minister's Visit
----------------------------------
11. Asked about DPRK Vice Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs
Kim Yong Il's visit to China, Jiang said Kim is visiting
China at the invitation of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and
will meet with Yang Jiechi and Wu Dawei, as well as visiting
other cities. When asked if Kim's visit is related to the
cancellation of the Six-Party Talks, she reiterated that Kim
is visiting at the invitation of the Foreign Ministry.

Upcoming Visit of South African Deputy President
--------------------------------------------- ---
12. Jiang said Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong will meet
South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
December 23-26 on the occasion of the third meeting of the
China-South Africa Bi-National Commission.
Randt

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