On the afternoon of January 7, 2010, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Yu held a regular press conference and answered questions.
Jiang Yu: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have two announcements to start with.
At the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Mozambique, Chen Deming, Minister of Commerce and Special Envoy of the Chinese Government will attend the inauguration ceremony of President Guebuza of Mozambique from January 13 to 14.
At the invitation of Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Vice Chancellor,Foreign Minister Westerwelle of the Federal Republic of Germany will pay a working visit to China from January 15 to 16.
Now, the floor is open.
Q: It is reported that the police along the China-DPRK borders has been intensified for Kim Jong-Il's possible visit to China. Do you have any comment?
A: I don't have any information on it.
Q: First, the United States just said it will sell Patriot missiles to Taiwan. Has China made official complaints to the US in this regard? Second, it is said that a Tibetan filmmaker, Dhondup Wangchen, was sentenced to six years in jail by local court in Xining. Please confirm.
A: On your first question, we firmly oppose the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and this stance is consistent and clear. We have made solemn representations to the U.S. side and urged them to recognize the gravity of arms sales to Taiwan, abide by the principles set in the three China-U.S. Joint Communiqués, especially the August 17 Communiqué, and stop arms sales to Taiwan so as not to undermine the overall cooperation between the two countries.
On your second question, I'm unaware of the specifics. Chinese citizens enjoy various fundamental rights including the freedom of speech according to law. Everyone is equal before the law and no one has any privilege above it. Punishment happens only when violation of the law occurs.
Q: The Australian Government said the investigation of the Rio Tinto case should be concluded by January 11 according to Chinese law. Has the Foreign Ministry been informed about the investigation?
A: The case you mentioned has been handled according to Chinese laws and legal procedures.
Q: According to Yomiuri Shimbun of Japan, Japanese Prime Minster Yukio Hatoyama will attend the Shanghai World Expo and is likely to visit Nanjing. Could you confirm? What's China's attitude towards that?
A: It is imperative for China and Japan to maintain high-level exchanges of visits. But the report that you mentioned, as far as I know, holds no water.
Some foreign political dignitaries will come to China to attend relevant activities during the 2010 World Expo. Up to now, 192 countries and 50 international organizations have confirmed their attendance. Yet it is still too early to say exactly which leader will come.
Q: Did China and Nepal discuss extending Qinghai-Tibetan Railway into Nepal during Nepalese Prime Minister's visit to China?
A: Nepalese Prime Minister Nepal paid a successful visit to China recently. China and Nepal are friendly neighbors. We are committed to developing our good-neighborliness and cooperation with Nepal on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence. As for the specific project you mentioned, I could contact relevant authorities for the specifics.
Q: China's Permanent Representative to the UN said that China opposes sanctions agains Iran. Does China believe there is another way to resolve this issue? Has China made any effort to make sure the issue will go in a direction China hopes to see?
A: On January 5, Ambassador Zhang Yesui, Permanent Representative of China to the U.N. briefed the press on the Security Council's work this month and answered questions regarding the Iranian nuclear issue.
China always believes that the Iranian nuclear issue should be resolved properly through diplomatic channels. Sanctions have never been a fundamental solution. We hope that parties concerned do not give up diplomatic efforts, further display flexibility in a bid to seek for a proper resolution of this issue.
Q: A U.S. software company filed a federal lawsuit against China's Green Dam software for piracy. Does China believe Green Dam's misappropriation?
A: We have received faxed questions concerning this issue from some of you present here, which we have transferred to the Ministry of Industry and Information, the competent authority. You may follow up and check for more specifics.
What I'd like to stress is, the Chinese Government highly values and fully respects the intellectual property rights of softwares.
Q: According to some Taiwanese officials, Taiwan and the mainland will launch negotiations on the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement around January 20. Please confirm.
A: For the Cross-strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, I'll leave it to competent authorities.
Q: The Indian Defense Secretary is here in Beijing for a visit, could you share with us his itinerary and meeting schedule?
A: Indian Defense Secretary Pradeep Kumar is in Beijing for the 3rd China-India Defense and Security Consultation. Relevant information has already been released by the Defense Ministry. Please refer to the Ministry of Defense for his other schedules.
Q: The Kyodo News Agency reported the Japanese Transport Ministry is planning to build a port on the Okinotori reef to help with exploration of mineral resources. How do you comment?
A: The natural geographical conditions of the Okinotori reef make it ineligible to claim exclusive economic zone or continental shelf in light of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Construction of facilities does not change its legal status. Japan's attempt to use this reef to support its claim of a large swathe of water contravenes the international maritime law and affects the interest of the international community.
If there are no more questions, thanks for coming! See you!