On the afternoon of April 3, 2007, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang held a regular press conference and answered questions on Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to the ROK and Japan, the Six-Party Talks, the Darfur issue, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing's attendance to the SAARC Summit, and China providing emergency assistance to the Solomon Islands.

Qin: Good afternoon! I don't have any announcement to make, the floor is open.

Q: Will there be any agreements to be signed between China and Japan during Premier Wen's visit to Japan? Will Premier Wen press Abe to make commitment of not visiting the Yasukuni Shrine?

A: The upcoming visit to Japan by Premier Wen Jiabao is an important visit, and of great significance in promoting the improvement and development of China-Japan relations. The agreements to be signed, schedules and topics are still under further consultation. We hope Premier Wen's visit will define the content of the strategic reciprocal relations, improve trade and economic cooperation mechanism, and enhance long-term educational, cultural, and youth exchanges and cooperation, so as to further develop the China-Japan good-neighborly, friendly, and cooperative relations.

As to the second question you raised, China and Japan have reached a consensus on overcoming the political obstacles hindering the bilateral relations and promoting the healthy and stable development of the bilateral relations. Handling the historical issues appropriately is crucial to the continuous development of bilateral relations. We hope that the two sides cherish and maintain the hard-won momentum of the improvement and development of China-Japan relations, consolidate the foundation of bilateral relations, and expand achievements of cooperation.

Q: Premier Wen said that he hoped his visit to Japan to be an ice-thawing trip. What does that mean? What progress does China expect to get in China-Japan relations? Second, Premier Wen will deliver a speech at Japan's Diet, what's the objective and meaning of this speech? Third, Premier Wen will go to Kyoto during the visit, why did he choose Kyoto? What results does China hope to get from his trip to Kyoto?

A: As to your first question, I think you'd better raise the question to Premier Wen himself during his interview with Japanese media before his visit.

The China-Japan relations should be improved not only in political field, but also in trade and economic, and cultural fields, and the foundation for friendship should also be expanded. We hope to develop the friendly ties and win-win cooperation with Japan featuring mutual-benefit in an all-round way, and realize peaceful coexistence, friendship for generations, mutually-beneficial cooperation, and common development.

As to the speech delivered at the Japan's Diet, I believe Premier Wen will expound China's policy and views on improving and developing China-Japan relations and cooperation on this significant occasion.

For your third question, we hope to enhance our understanding of the Japanese society through Premier Wen's visit to Japan, not only to Tokyo, but also to other places. Kyoto is a choice after joint consultation.

Q: A Saudi Arabian Prince will visit China, and he will meet with President Hu Jintao and discuss the issue of investing in China. Could you brief us on his agenda and topics?

A: As far as I know, this visit is private. I don't have any information about his agenda.

Q: Last week, a new round of East China Sea consultation was held in Beijing. Could you tell us some details about the consultation? Will China and Japan make some progress over the East China Sea issue during Premier Wen's visit to Japan?

A: We often say that China and Japan are separated only by a narrow strip of water. The water here includes the East China Sea connecting the two countries. The two sides have different propositions on the delimitation of the East China Sea. But it shall not affect the large interest of the development of bilateral ties or the large picture of the maintenance of stability in the East China Sea by the efforts of the two sides. Based on that, China proposed the principle of "shelving differences and making joint development" on resolving the East China Sea issue. Leaders of the two countries have reached consensus on adhering to the general direction of joint development and accelerating consultation. We are ready to join hands with Japan to implement the consensus obtained by the two leaders.

During the 7th round of the consultation on the East China Sea last week, the two sides had serious and constructive discussions on their respective concerns and full exchanges of views on that. As for the schedule of the next round of consultation, the two sides will set the date by consultation at an early date in light of the consensus reached by the two leaders.

Q: China is an observer of SAARC, and what role will China play on the SAARC Summit held today?

A: SAARC is an important regional cooperative organization in South Asia and it has a very important role in safeguarding stability and promoting common development in South Asia. China has been attaching importance to and following the development of South Asia and we feel glad to be accepted as an observer of SAARC. As the common neighbour of South Asian counties, China is willing to make joint efforts with them to make positive contribution to peace and stability of South Asia as well as the economic and social development of countries in the region. We are ready to conduct exchanges and cooperation with SAARC countries in line with the principle of equality, mutual trust, mutual benefit and win-win result.

Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing is attending the SAARC Summit in New Delhi and we wish the Summit a complete success.

Q: Glaser is still in Beijing. Is there any new progress on the transfer issue of BDA? Sources from the ROK suggested that the US and the DPRK will hold bilateral meetings at this weekend. Can you confirm?

A: The relevant parties are still having consultation on the issue. As for the meetings between the US and the DPRK, please refer your question to the US or the DPRK side.

Q: It is reported that the Solomon Islands suffered from an earthquake of 8.0 magnitudes on the Richer scale. Has China offered any assistance? Are there any Chinese citizen wounded or killed in the earthquake?

A: On behalf of the Chinese government, I express the solicitude to the Solomon Islands on the suffering of earthquake, loss of properties and casualties. The Red Cross Committee of China has provided emergency assistance in cash to its counterpart of the Solomon Islands. As far as I know, there is no Chinese citizen injured or killed in the earthquake now. We will continue to follow closely the relevant situation.

Q: What is the significance of Premier Wen's visit to the ROK and Japan to the future development of China, the ROK and Japan relations?

A: China, Japan and the ROK are important neighbours to each other. The development of good-neighbourly and friendly relations among the three countries is of great significance to peace, stability, security and development of Asia. Premier Wen's visit this time will further promote the improvement and development of China-ROK relations and China-Japan relations, and deepen the friendly and mutually-beneficial bilateral relations in various fields. We are convinced that with the joint efforts of the three countries, the visit will be a complete success.

Q: It is reported that the Ukrainian President Yushchenko has decided to dissolve the Parliament. The situation in Ukraine becomes more and more tense. What is your comment?

A: President Yushchenko's decision is an internal affair of Ukraine. As a friendly country of Ukraine, China sincerely hopes Ukraine can maintain political and social stability and the China-Ukrainian friendly and cooperative relations can move forward continuously.

Q: It is reported that Vice Premier Wu Yi will head a delegation to Washington next month and may sign agreements worth $12.5 Billion with the US. Please confirm.

A: Vice Premier Wu Yi will head a delegation to the US for the 2nd round of China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue in the first half of this year. China and the US are having intensive and serious negotiations on relevant work. If there is any progress in this regard, we will release the relevant information in due course.

Q: How many official visits have the Chinese leaders ever paid to the ROK including Premier Wen's? Second, the 60-day deadline for the initial actions of the Six-party Talks is looming. It may be hard to implement the Feb.13 Joint Document. What kind of measures will China take to resolve the deadlock between the US and the DPRK?

A: Premier Wen's visits this time will be Chinese Premier's first official visits to the ROK and Japan in the past 7 years. In 2005, President Hu Jintao paid a state visit to the ROK.

During his visit to the ROK, Premier Wen will meet with President Roh Moo-hyun and the Prime Minister. They will exchange views on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues of common interest. Besides, he will meet with Speaker of the National Assembly, Party leaders and people from various circles and attend the cultural exchange activities. We will release the specifics of the visit in due course. We believe that this visit will play a significant role in promoting the further development f China-ROK comprehensive and cooperative relations.

On the second question, the relevant parties shall spare no time in accelerating consultation and find a solution acceptable to all parties based on considering their interests and concerns so as to implement the initial actions as soon as possible and press ahead with the Six-Party Talks.

Q: During Premier Wen's visit to the ROK, the two sides will sign a document like a joint statement? What are the main topics during the two leaders' meeting? Will the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue or the historical issues be included?

A: The two sides are still having consultations on the arrangement of the meeting between Premier Wen and President Roh Moo-hyun and other activities. I am not in a position to disclose the details at present. China and the ROK are neighbors and two important countries in the region. The leaders of the two countries are interested in a broad range of issues. Besides bilateral relations and cooperation, they will surely exchange views on major international and regional issues, including the issues you talked about.

Q: Sudan's joint chief of staff General Haj Ahmed El Gaili is visiting China to promote the military exchanges of the two sides. Whom will he meet with? What agreements will be signed? What kind of cooperation will be conducted between the two militaries?

A: General Haj Ahmed El Gaili, Sudan's joint chief of staff, is visiting China at the invitation of Liang Guanglie, Chief of the General Staff of PLA.

Yesterday he met with Cao Gangchuan, Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission and Defense Minister. This morning he met with Xu Caihou, Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission. Tomorrow he will meet with Liang Guanglie, Chief of the General Staff of PLA. During the meetings, China has or will have exchanges of views with General El Gailion on the further development of bilateral ties especially the exchanges of the two militaries.

In particular, views have been exchanged with the Sudanese side on the Darfur issue. China elaborated on its principled positions and propositions.

To achieve peace, stability, and economic reconstruction in the Darfur region at an early date is the basic standpoint from which China deals with the Darfur issue. We hold that the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sudan should be respected, and the Darfur issue should be resolved by political means through equal dialogue and consultation. At present, relevant parties are holding dialogue and consultation over Annan's proposal, and China welcomes that. We also hope that Sudan could show further flexibility, and relevant parties could further promote the political process to resolve the Darfur issue, endeavor to improve the security and humanitarian situation in the Darfur region. China is willing to play a constructive role in the Darfur issue, and continue to make efforts, together with the international community, to realize peace and stability in the Darfur region.

Q: Is there any update of the two Chinese citizens kidnapped in Nigeria?

A: The Chinese government is going all-out in rescuing the two citizens. We hope they could be released and reunite with their family as soon as possible.

Q: Has China brought up to the Sudanese Joint Chief of Staff the issue of UN peace-keeping mission to the Darfur region?

A: I said earlier that during his visit, China exchanged views with the Joint Chief of Staff El Gaili on the Darfur issue. The two sides discussed Annan's proposal, and China hoped the Sudanese government to show more flexibility. During the visit of Nafie, Assistant to the Sudanese President, Chinese leaders including Chairman of the Standing Committee of NPC Wu Bangguo and State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan exchanged views with him on the Darfur issue, and expressed our hope to see further flexibility on the Sudanese side in implementing Annan's proposal.

Q: Since the ROK and Japan are important neighboring countries of China, why the Chinese Premier didn't pay a visit to the ROK until seven years later? The US has stationed over 100,000 soldiers in the ROK and Japan. Has the Cold-War mentality affected high-level exchanges between China and ROK, and China and Japan?

A: It is neither accurate nor objective to assess the bilateral relations by the frequency of Chinese Premier's visit. China and the ROK did not establish diplomatic relations until 1992, and now the two countries have become crucial trading partners for each other with the bilateral trade volume skyrocketed from nearly zero to over $100 billion. You could see that the China-ROK relations do have made great development. The exchanges between China and the ROK, China and Japan, including mutual visits of leaders and exchanges at all levels and in all fields have never been halted. There are Chinese leaders visiting the ROK and Japan and vice versa. Surely, there was some difficulty in China-Japan relations due to the reason known to all, which had affected normal exchanges between the two countries. But now the two nations have reached a consensus on overcoming the obstacles affecting bilateral exchanges, and both are devoted to promoting further improvement and development of the bilateral ties.

What we often hear is that people may choose their spouse yet countries can never choose their neighbors. China and the ROK, and China and Japan, important neighbors to each other, should make joint efforts to enhance mutual trust, strengthen mutually-beneficial cooperation, and realize friendship for generations and common development.

Q: Recently, Japanese Prime Minister Abe has twice apologized for the "Comfort Women" issue during the WWII. Will Premier Wen bring up this issue during his visit to Japan?

A: We have noted Prime Minister Abe's remarks over the "comfort women" issue in recent days. Handling relevant historical issues appropriately is of critical importance to promote the healthy and stable development of the China-Japan relations. China's stance on a series of historical issues including the "comfort women" is clear and persistent. History should be an engine for progress rather than a burden. We hope that Japan could face up to and properly deal with relevant historical issues, so that the China-Japan relations could step forward in a smooth and stable manner.

Q: Last week, Amnesty International put forward several human rights issues to the officials of the Chinese embassy in the US, including the Banchan Lama, the detained family of Rebiya Kadeer, and the Darfur issue, and called for China to stop repatriating the DPRK "refugees". Could you share with us some details? What's China's response to the call from this organization?

A: The organization you mentioned has always been biased against China. The reports released by this group about China have always failed to be objective, fair and accurate. We are resolutely opposed to that. We hope to conduct dialogue with international community including non-governmental organizations over human rights issue on the basis of equality and mutual respect, so as to enhance mutual understanding and promote the development of international human rights undertakings. But relevant organizations have to give up their prejudice or even hostility against China.

If there are no more questions, thanks for your presence!