The Foreign Ministry yesterday again expressed its willingness
to improve relations with the Vatican, but insisted it must
consider Taiwan a part of China and not interfere in the country's
internal affairs.
The ministry's spokesperson Kong Quan made the remarks at a
regular news briefing in response to a reported statement by the
Vatican's top diplomat that it was ready to end relations with
Taiwan.
Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the secretary of state, was quoted as
saying on Tuesday that the Holy See was ready for dialogue and
contacts with Beijing.
Kong said China has noted the statement from the Vatican and
hopes the words can be translated into action. He reiterated
Beijing's two preconditions to normalizing relations.
First, the Vatican must sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan and
recognize the island as an inseparable part of China.
Second, the Vatican must not interfere in China's internal
affairs, including religion.
Kong said all Chinese citizens enjoy freedom of religious
belief, but religious groups must conduct themselves in accordance
with laws and regulations.
China has had no diplomatic ties with the Vatican since
1951.
Just hours after Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was named Pope
Benedict XVI in April, China expressed the wish to improve
bilateral ties, hoping that the Vatican would create favorable
conditions to normalize relations under the new leadership.
HK constitutional development report
Hong Kong's newly announced report on constitutional development
is based on the views of people from all walks of life in Hong Kong
and conforms with Hong Kong's practical conditions, Kong said in
response to criticism of the report by some US congressmen.
Hong Kong Chief Secretary of Administration Rafael Hui made the
Fifth Report of the Constitutional Development Task Force at the
Legislative Council on October 21. It contains a package of
proposals on methods for selection of the Chief Executive in 2007
and for the formation of the Legislative Council in 2008.
Kong said the report is consistent with the essence of the Basic
Law and with the stipulation of the Standing Committee of the
National People's Congress (NPC)
on the explanation of the Basic Law. The report epitomizes the
spirit of "balanced participation" and "advancing step by
step."
CNPC acquisition of PetroKazakhstan
The Chinese government has all along taken a positive view on
energy cooperation with foreign countries, including those with its
neighbors, Kong said when commenting on the successful acquisition
of Canada-based PetroKazakhstan Inc. (PK) by China National
Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) through its wholly
owned subsidiary on Thursday morning. ?
Both the Chinese and Kazakhstan governments have voiced their
support for the cooperation between their energy companies based on
equality and mutual benefit so as to achieve common progress and
prosperity, he said.
PK is an international energy company registered in Canada, with
all of its assets, such as oilfields and refineries, in Kazakhstan.
Its annual crude production capacity exceeds 7 million tons.
Since it first entered the Kazakhstan market in 1997, CNPC has
developed sound relationships with local government by strictly
following local laws and regulations as well as international
conventions of the industry.
Hu's visits to North Korea, Vietnam
Kong also made comments on President Hu
Jintao's upcoming visits to North Korea and Vietnam.
During his North Korean tour that begins today, Hu will hold
talks with its party and state leaders on bilateral relations, Kong
said.
The two sides will also exchange views on international and
regional affairs of mutual interest, he said.
During his Vietnam trip from October 31 to November 2, Hu will
hold talks with General Secretary of the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manh and Vietnamese President
Tran Duc Luong, to cover "a wide range of issues," Kong said.
The growth of
China-Vietnam relations is "generally good," he said. The
continuous consolidation and enhancement of friendly ties between
China and Vietnam complies with the fundamental interests of the
two peoples, he said.
China hopes the visit could play a role in further implementing
the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, enhancing
bilateral cooperation and uplifting bilateral ties to new heights,
Kong said.
New round of six-party talks
Kong said that the pressing matter for the moment is
implementing all principles and agreements stated in the common
document reached during the last round of six-party
talks, Kong said.
The last round of talks in Beijing concluded on September
19.
Kong said that a specific date for the coming round of talks has
not to be decided.
Kong expressed the hope that all parties concerned would stick
to their commitment as agreed in the common document, namely,
making joint efforts to bring about enduring peace and stability in
Northeast Asia. Parties "directly concerned" will sit by the
bargaining table to discuss the establishment of a mechanism for
permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Kong said Li Bin, Chinese envoy in charge of Korean Peninsular
affairs, had visited North Korea, and held talks with Christopher
Hill, head of the US delegation to the six-party talks, during his
visit to the US. He will visit South Korea soon.
Chinese, Russian PMs meet
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Yefimovich Fradkov will visit
from November 3 to 4 for the 10th Sino-Russian Prime Ministers'
Meeting with Premier Wen
Jiabao.
Economic and trade affairs top the meeting's agenda as enhancing
cooperation of mutual benefits is a major part of the
China-Russia strategic partnership, Kong said, adding that
bilateral trade volume in 2004 exceeded US$20 billion for the first
time.
But there is room for further development, Kong said. He added
that Wen and Fradkov will meet to exchange views on further
expanding cooperation channels and fields so as to achieve common
growth and prosperity.
They will also exchange opinions on bilateral relations and
major international and regional issues, Kong said.
China and Russia maintain frequent dialogue, consultation and
cooperation and will do the same during the informal summit of the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) from November 18 to 19, in
order to push forward APEC's progress and contribute to regional
economic improvement such as trade and investment, Kong said.
Vice Premier Wu Yi
will hold the 9th Session of the Committee of the Sino-Russian
Prime Ministers' Meeting on November 1 with Russian Deputy Prime
Minister Alexander Zhukov who will arrive earlier.
Kong said State Councilor Chen
Zhili will hold the 6th Session of Sino-Russian Cooperation
Committee on Education, Culture, Public Health and Sports with
Zhukov on October 31.
Draft resolution of possible sanctions against
Syria
China makes careful study on a draft resolution about possible
sanctions against Syria and supports the UN-authorized inquiry
commission to find out the truth at an early date, Kong said.
"China is conducting careful study on the draft resolution and
keeping contacts with parties concerned," Kong said.
The US, UK and France circulated a draft Security Council
resolution late Tuesday, calling Syria to cooperate in the
investigation of the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik
Hariri or face UN sanctions.
Kong said China attaches great importance to the resolution and
supports the inquiry commission to go on with its investigation and
find out the truth as soon as possible.
"At the same time, all parties concerned should cooperate on the
issue," said Kong, adding that any action of the UN Security
Council should be conducive to the final results of the
investigation.
The UN Security Council held its first round of consultations
late Wednesday on the draft introduced by the US, UK and France,
but has yet to reach a consensus.
IPR protection
The protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) is
important for China and the government has paid great attention to
the issue, Kong said.
He said that IPR protection conforms with the country's
opening-up policy, improving the investment environment and
introducing advanced foreign technology.
He added that it is also related to China's commitments to
entering the World Trade Organization, and the advancement of
economic and technological progress and social development.
It is definite that the governments in some local areas are
responsible for handling piracy cases, Kong noted.
Additional US$13.8 million aid to Pakistan
China will again provide with cash and materials worth US$13.8
million to Pakistan as quake relief aid, Kong said.
China has decided to send a medical team to the quake-hit area
in Pakistan, and is considering building an earthquake monitoring
network for the country, he said.
According to Kong, Premier Wen met with Pakistani Prime Minister
Shaukat Aziz in Moscow when they attended a meeting of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Wen again expressed sympathy to Aziz with the heavy human
casualties caused by the strong earthquake.
China has already offered US$6.2 million worth of aid to
Pakistan.
The death toll of the earthquake in South Asia has reportedly
reached more than 54,000.
War shrine visit
Kong criticized Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for
his recent visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, saying it was a symbol of
Japanese militarism.
He said Koizumi's repeated visits to the shrine, where 14
class-A war criminals as well as other war dead are honored, hurt
the feelings and dignity of the peoples who, and countries which,
were victims of Japanese aggression during World War II.
Koizumi's acts have set up obstacles to the development of
Sino-Japanese relations, he said.
Girl's death not linked to bird flu
outbreak
Health authorities yesterday refused to link the death of a
12-year-old girl who had flu-like symptoms with the bird-flu
outbreak in central China's Hunan
Province.
Both the health and foreign ministries said yesterday that no
human infection has been reported in China so far.
"The Chinese government has already taken ... decisive measures
to prevent bird flu and to share information with the international
community," Kong said.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily October 28, 2005)