Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said at Tuesday's
regular press conference that Premier Wen
Jiabao, Vice Premier Huang Ju
and Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing have sent congratulatory letters to Vanuatu's new
Prime Minister Ham Lini and to Sato Kilman, deputy prime minister
and minister of foreign affairs.
Ham Lini sent a letter to Premier Wen on Monday in which he
reiterated that Vanuatu would adhere to the one-China policy and
would not have any official relations with Taiwan. He also
reaffirmed that his government has revoked all agreements signed
between former Vanuatuan leaders and Taiwan authorities on November
3.
"We appreciate the stance of Vanuatu," Liu said.
Liu stated that China and Vanuatu have developed friendly and
cooperative relations during their 22 years of political ties,
noting that the one-China policy is the fundamental principle on
which its diplomatic relations are based.
The one-China policy states that the People's Republic of China
is the sole legal government representing all of China and that
Taiwan is an inseparable part of China.
Liu said that China anticipates working with the new government
in Vanuatu to promote ties based on the communiqué establishing
diplomatic relations and the Five Principles of Peaceful
Coexistence.
Vanuatu's parliament dismissed Prime Minister Serge Vohor on
Friday, a month after he signed a deal recognizing Taiwan. Deputy
Prime Minister Ham Lini was named to replace Vohor.
Turning to the Korean Peninsula nuclear standoff, Liu said that
China is still confident and sincere in the continuation of its
efforts to resume the six-party talks as soon as possible.
He said all parties believe that the six-party talks are, at
present, the only feasible and effective way of solving the nuclear
issue and they should be continued. China requests all parties to
be sincere and flexible to advance the negotiation process.
Japan's military activities are a sensitive issue for various
historical reasons, said Liu, and China hopes Japan will give
priority to maintaining peace and stability in the region despite
its increasing attention to military affairs.
He also condemned Japan's use of the "China Threat" theory in
official documents, adding that the assertion is groundless and
irresponsible.
Liu said that World Food Program (WFP) Executive Director James
Morris had visited China from December 9 to 14, inspecting some WFP
projects in Gansu
Province and meeting with Premier Wen and Foreign Minister
Li.
"China is a developing country with 29 million impoverished
people, but since there are still 850 million people living in
poverty in the world, China will gradually increase its donation to
the WFP according to its capability," said Liu.
Liu announced that at the invitation of President Hu
Jintao, Venezuelan President Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias will pay
a state visit to China from December 22 to 26. It will be Chavez'
third state visit to China.
During his stay, the third session of the China-Venezuela
High-level Joint Committee will be held. Chavez will also meet with
Hu and other leaders to exchange views on bilateral relations and
international issues of common concern, Liu said.
The visiting president is also scheduled to visit Shandong
Province in east China.
(China Daily, Xinhua News Agency, CRI.com December 15,
2004)