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Cablegate: July 24 Mfa Press Briefing: Nepal, Six-Party Talks,

VZCZCXRO4901
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2876/01 2060948
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 240948Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8777
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002876

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KOLY CH RS NP
SUBJECT: JULY 24 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: Nepal, Six-Party Talks,
Olympics, Visas.

1. Key points at the July 24 MFA Press Briefing:

-- China rejects the accusation that it pressured the Government of
Nepal to arrest Tibetan protestors.

-- Much progress has been made towards the denuclearization of North
Korea. All parties involved laud China's positive efforts in the
Six-Party Talks. A formal Ministerial meeting will be held in
Beijing "once the time is mature."

-- More than 80 dignitaries will attend the opening ceremonies of
the Beijing Olympic Games. Invitations to the event are extended by
the respective National Olympic Committees, and not by the Chinese
Government.

-- For the sake of pre-Olympics security, China has adjusted its
visa policies. These adjustments will not affect travelers coming
to China for normal business, however.

-- China is still studying the draft safeguards presented to the
IAEA regarding the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal.

-- China has will appoint a new ambassador to ASEAN, but it is not
yet confirmed who the new ambassador will be.

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-- A resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives regarding
China's human rights situation and interactions with the Government
of Sudan is interference in China's internal affairs and is "against
the Olympic Games."

-- VISITS: At the invitation of Vice-Premier Wang Qishan, Russian
Deputy Prime Minister Igor Ivanovich Sechin will visit China July
26-27, for discussions on Sino-Russian energy cooperation.


Nepal and Tibetan Protesters
----------------------------

2. China rejects the accusation that it has pressured the Nepalese
Government to arrest Tibetan protesters in Nepal and that China's
Ambassador to Nepal has made multiple representations to the
Nepalese Government requesting such arrests, MFA Spokesman Liu
Jianchao said at the regular bi-weekly MFA press conference July 24.
Nepal is a friendly neighboring country, and China does not
pressure its friendly neighbors, Liu said. Regarding Tibet, he
added that China will not allow any actions that harm its interests,
nor will its friendly neighbors allow any such actions within their
territory. China will also not allow the separation of Tibet or any
attacks on its diplomatic missions abroad, and China supports some
countries taking necessary actions to prevent such incidents.

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

3. The spokesman was unable to comment on the recent informal
Six-Party Talks ministerial held on the margins of the ASEAN
Regional Forum meeting in Singapore, as he had no heard the reports.
Asked if China's policies towards North Korea and denuclearization
are a failure, Liu responded that the policies are not a failure and
that all Six Parties "realized consensus" that there has been much
progress in promoting denuclearization. All parties reconfirmed
their willingness to honor their commitments, and all parties
applaud the positive role that China has played in the Six-Party
Talks. In response to a follow up on the possibility of an formal
Six-Party Ministerial meeting, Liu noted that the informal meeting
in Singapore was historic, as the Foreign Ministers of all six
nations had not met before. A formal Ministerial will be held in
Beijing "once the time is mature," but more consultations are
necessary.

Olympics
--------

4. Regarding dignitaries invited to the Olympics, Liu said that
heads of state and government and ministers of sports are invited by
their relevant national Olympic Committees and not by the Chinese
Government. More than 80 such dignitaries are expected to attend. On
follow-up, Liu said that China would welcome a potential bilateral
meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime
Minister Fukuda, if Fukuda is interested. China is "studying the
possibility" of holding bilateral meetings with other world leaders
as well.

5. Asked to confirm that five Olympic cities, including Beijing and
Shanghai, are no longer issuing letters of invitation to business
travelers during the Olympics, Liu responded that in advance of the
Olympics China is working to strengthen its security, and as such
has adjusted its visa policies. These adjustments will not affect
foreigners coming to China for normal work, but the new applications
procedures are more complicated and will take more time, he said.

BEIJING 00002876 002 OF 002

6. Asked about rumors that 500 Tibetans were caught after
infiltrating the ranks of Olympics volunteers, Liu said that he had
not heard of it. He added that some foreign journalists make up
news that does not exist, and while the Chinese Government denies
such rumors, journalists do not heed its concerns. Such behavior is
unethical, and these journalists should be condemned and their
reputations ruined, he said.

7. Asked two questions regarding the establishment of protest parks
for use during the Olympics and the process by which said protests
will be approved, the spokesperson twice referred the questioner to
the State Council's Protest and Demonstration Law.

Chinese views on U.S.-India nuclear agreement
---------------------------------------------

8. Asked if China, in its position as a member of both the IAEA and
the Nuclear Suppliers Group, would support the U.S.-India nuclear
agreement, Liu responded that China is still studying the draft
safeguards between India and the IAEA.

ASEAN Ambassador
----------------

9. China has recently appointed an ambassador to ASEAN, which is
another sign of the progress of Sino-ASEAN relations, Liu said. The
mission of the ambassador will be to further improve the strategic
partnership of cooperation that already exists. It is not yet
confirmed who the new ambassador will be.

U.S. House of Representatives Resolution on Sudan
--------------------------------------------- ----

10. Asked a question regarding a resolution in the U.S. House of
Representatives calling on China to address human rights abuses and
stop supporting the Government of Sudan, Liu responded that such a
resolution is "against the Olympic Games" as well as against the
shared aspirations of all those who oppose the politicization of the
Olympics. He noted that the resolution is also interference in
China's internal affairs.

Kunming bombing, Sino-Japan Cooperation
---------------------------------------

11. Asked for additional information on the recent bus bombings in
Kunming, Yunnan Province, the spokesman responded that the incident
is still under investigation, and the police in Kunming are
providing updates to the media there.


12. Sino-Japanese cooperation in the field of earthquake prevention
is important, as both countries are earthquake-prone, Liu said.
This was a topic which Hu Jintao discussed during the G-8 meeting,
he said. The Japanese provided large amounts of support following
the Sichuan earthquake, for which the Chinese people express their
heartfelt thanks to the Japanese Government and people.


Visit: Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sechin
-------------------------------------------

13. VISITS: At the invitation of Vice-Premier Wang Qishan, Russian
Deputy Prime Minister Igor Ivanovich Sechin will visit China July
26-27, for discussions on Sino-Russian energy Cooperation.

RANDT

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