Chinese mainland prepared for any complications in cross-Straits relations

The Chinese mainland is highly vigilant against the development of the situation in Taiwan following Taiwan leader's "dangerous step" to cease the function of the "National Unification Council" and the application of its guidelines, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said here Tuesday.

"Such a move is a dangerous step toward "Taiwan independence" and a serious provocation to the one-China principle universally observed by the international community and to peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits," Li told a press conference held on the sidelines of the ongoing annual full session of the national legislature.

"We are ready to strive for peaceful reunification with our utmost sincerity and utmost efforts. But we will never tolerate 'Taiwan independence'. We will never allow anyone to split Taiwan from China by any means."

The secessionist activities of the leader of Taiwan authorities, which have met strong opposition from people on both sides of the Straits and condemnation and contempt from the international community, will for sure "end up in shameful failure," said the minister.

Globally, 167 of over 190 countries have established diplomatic relations with China. These countries, together with 138 intergovernmental international organizations including the United Nations, all recognize that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China, Li said.

This is an internationally observed principle embodied in major documents such as the Cairo Declaration, Potsdam Declaration and No. 2758 Resolution of the United Nations, he added.

"The fact that the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China has never been changed. And this is the status quo of cross-Straits relations."

Noting the Taiwan question is the "most important factor" affecting Sino-U.S. relations, Li stressed "we hope the U.S. side adheres to the one-China policy, observes the three Sino-U.S. communiques, has a clear understanding of the dangerous nature of 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces and activities, takes concrete measures to oppose such attempts."

He called on the U.S. side not to send erroneous signals to "Taiwan independence" elements, and make joint efforts with China to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and safeguard the overall interests in Sino-U.S. relations.

"We are ready to work with the U.S. side to strengthen mutual understanding, expand common ground, deepen mutual trust, promote cooperation, and properly settle our differences with a view to promoting the sound development of bilateral relations," Li said.

As for Chinese President Hu Jintao's upcoming visit to the United States, the first since Hu took the presidency in 2003, Li said, both side are busy making preparations to ensure a successful visit.

East China Sea consultation between China, Japan "pragmatic and constructive"

The fourth round of East China Sea consultation which concluded here Tuesday between Chinese and Japanese diplomatic officials was "pragmatic and constructive,"Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said.

"China and Japan have agreed to launch the next round of consultation as early as possible," Li said at a press conference Tuesday held on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

It is a fact that China and Japan have different views on the East China Sea issue, but the two sides expect to address the difference through negotiation and cooperation.

Sino-US trade relations should not be politicized

The United States should not politicize its trade relations with China, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said here Tuesday.

The two countries should solve trade problems under the framework of the World Trade Organization, Li said.

Li made the remarks at a press conference held on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of the Tenth National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

The trade between the two countries reached 211.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2005, up 24.8 percent year on year, Li said.

Referring to the trade imbalance between the two sides, Li noted that China does not pursue surplus in its trade with the United States, and it is "ready to take positive measures" to solve the problem.

However, Li said, the restriction on export items of the United States to China is to be partially blamed for U.S. deficit in its trade with China.

"Besides its Boeing planes, the United States only wants to sell its soybean, cotton and orange to China. For those more valuable items, it doesn't like to sell to us because it regards them as 'high-tech' products or as civilian-military goods," Li said.

The minister said China's export to the United States can help curb inflation and create four to eight million jobs in the country.

Also, consumers in the United States have benefited from the import of Chinese products, which are cheap but also in good quality, Li added.

The minister said China has become a fastest growing market fo the U.S. export, adding that China is the largest importer of soybean and cotton of the United States.

With regard to the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), another issue where the United States has complaints on China, Li said the Chinese government has taken measures in legislative, judicial, law-enforcement and educational fields to strengthen the IPR protection.

He told reporters in 2005 alone, China's industrial and commercial authorities handled more than 39,000 trade mark infringement cases. And Chinese courts tried more than 3,500 IPR-related cases.

The minister said the two countries saw fruitful cooperation on economy, trade, anti-terrorism, the nuclear issues of the Korean Peninsula and Iran, the reform of the United Nations, and the prevention and control of bird flu.

Cooperation between China and the United States is not only beneficial to the two countries, but also contributes to regional and global peace, stability and development, Li said

The Chinese people unswervingly pursue a path of peaceful development, and its development does not pose a threat to any country, the minister said.

Japanese leaders should stop hurting feelings of wartime victims

Japanese leaders should stop worshipping war criminals and hurting the feelings of people in China and other countries having suffered from Japanese invasions during World War II, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said here Tuesday.

"The crucial problem challenging Sino-Japanese political relations now is that certain Japanese leaders still insist on paying homage to the class-A war criminals who had launched and commanded aggressive wars," Li said at a press conference.

"This is an issue of very serious nature," Li told the press conference held on the sidelines of the ongoing annual full session of China's top legislature.

Not only the Chinese people but also wartime victims of many other nations will not accept the incumbent Japanese leaders' visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, where 14 Japanese class-A World War II war criminals are enshrined, he added.

With regard to the history issue, Li reiterated, it is crucial that the Japanese leaders should "demonstrate enough sincerity and courage" to correct their "erroneous doings."

From 1931 to 1945, 35 million Chinese people died or were injured during Japan's war of aggression against China, accounting for about 8 percent of China's population at that time.

Li recalled a German official once told him that after World War II no German leader could ever say anything in support of Adolf Hitler or the Nazis and that Germans could not understand why Japan could keep doing such an amoral and "stupid" thing as visiting the Yasukuni Shrine.

He cited the unidentified German official as saying that war initiators should do nothing more to hurt the feelings of offspring of wartime victims again.

The minister reaffirmed China's basic principle of developing Sino-Japanese relations, saying that China will continue to make positive efforts to improve bilateral ties under the guidance of the five-point proposal raised by Chinese President Hu Jintao last April in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Li urged the Japanese side to abide by the three political documents and take actual actions to forge a friendly relationship toward the 21st century, and handle historical problems in a serious and sincere manner, echoing Hu's proposals put forward during talks with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on the sidelines of the Asian-African summit in Jakarta on April 23, 2005.

Differences between the two nations need to be resolved through dialogues and peaceful negotiations, while extensive exchanges and cooperation, and friendly non-governmental contacts should be reinforced, the minister added.

Li also called on Japan to fulfill its commitments concerning the Taiwan issue through concrete actions.

As for the East China Sea dispute between China and Japan, Li admitted that the two neighbors still have different views on it, but both sides expect to handle the divergences through negotiation and cooperation.

Earlier Tuesday, China and Japan concluded here the fourth round of "pragmatic and constructive" consultation on the East China Sea issue, and agreed to "hold the next round of consultation as soon as possible," Li said.

China and Japan have been engaged in talks on demarcation disputes over the East China Sea. Li said at the press conference that China's exploitation activities are conducted in its coastal water areas bearing no dispute. Enditem

Japanese leaders should stop worshipping war criminals and hurting the feelings of people in China and other countries having suffered from Japanese invasions during World War II, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said here Tuesday.

"The crucial problem challenging Sino-Japanese political relations now is that certain Japanese leaders still insist on paying homage to the class-A war criminals who had launched and commanded aggressive wars," Li said at a press conference.

"This is an issue of very serious nature," Li told the press conference held on the sidelines of the ongoing annual full session of China's top legislature.

Not only the Chinese people but also wartime victims of many other nations will not accept the incumbent Japanese leaders' visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, where 14 Japanese class-A World War II war criminals are enshrined, he added.

With regard to the history issue, Li reiterated, it is crucial that the Japanese leaders should "demonstrate enough sincerity and courage" to correct their "erroneous doings."

From 1931 to 1945, 35 million Chinese people died or were injured during Japan's war of aggression against China, accounting for about 8 percent of China's population at that time.

Li recalled a German official once told him that after World War II no German leader could ever say anything in support of Adolf Hitler or the Nazis and that Germans could not understand why Japan could keep doing such an amoral and "stupid" thing as visiting the Yasukuni Shrine.

He cited the unidentified German official as saying that war initiators should do nothing more to hurt the feelings of offspring of wartime victims again.

The minister reaffirmed China's basic principle of developing Sino-Japanese relations, saying that China will continue to make positive efforts to improve bilateral ties under the guidance of the five-point proposal raised by Chinese President Hu Jintao last April in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Li urged the Japanese side to abide by the three political documents and take actual actions to forge a friendly relationship toward the 21st century, and handle historical problems in a serious and sincere manner, echoing Hu's proposals put forward during talks with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on the sidelines of the Asian-African summit in Jakarta on April 23, 2005.

Differences between the two nations need to be resolved through dialogues and peaceful negotiations, while extensive exchanges and cooperation, and friendly non-governmental contacts should be reinforced, the minister added.

Li also called on Japan to fulfill its commitments concerning the Taiwan issue through concrete actions.

As for the East China Sea dispute between China and Japan, Li admitted that the two neighbors still have different views on it, but both sides expect to handle the divergences through negotiation and cooperation.

Earlier Tuesday, China and Japan concluded here the fourth round of "pragmatic and constructive" consultation on the East China Sea issue, and agreed to "hold the next round of consultation as soon as possible," Li said.

China and Japan have been engaged in talks on demarcation disputes over the East China Sea. Li said at the press conference that China's exploitation activities are conducted in its coastal water areas bearing no dispute.

China to strengthen co-op with all countries for a win-win result

"China is poised to work with all countries to strengthen cooperation for a win-win result," said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing here Tuesday.

"As a member of the developing world, China is ready to work with all the developing countries to develop itself and constantly improve the living standards of its people," said Li at a press conference held on the sidelines of the ongoing annual full session of the Tenth National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

The United Nations have 191 member countries, of which two thirds are developing countries, while the world has a total population of 6.5 billion, four fifths from developing countries, said Li.

"Without the development and stability of the developing countries, there will be no peace and prosperity of the world," he said.

Li said China and other developing countries have similar past, face common challenge and share common interests. Thus it will always be the corner stone of China's diplomacy to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation with the rest of the developing world.

"China itself is not well-off, but we are prepared to assist the developing countries to the best of our ability," said Li. We will continue to follow up the commitment made by President Hu Jintao on the summit of the 60th founding anniversary of the United Nations in support for the developing countries.

Li said in the international affairs, China is ready to strengthen the consultation and coordination to jointly safeguard the legitimate rights of the developing countries.

"Concerning the United Nation reform, China holds that the priority should be the issue of development, while on the issue of security council reform, priority should be given to enhancing the representation of the developing world, especially the African countries," he said.

On China's path to build a well-off society in an all-round way, Li said China's diplomacy will be committed to creating a peaceful and friendly international environment for the goal.

China to press ahead Sino-Arabic relations

The Sino-Arabic relations are developing smoothly, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said here Tuesday.

Since the Sino-Arabic forum was founded, the two sides carried out close cooperation. The forum developed rapidly. Last year the second CEO meeting of the Sino-Arabic entrepreneurship forum was held. The two sides also launched cooperative training program on human resources, Li said at a press conference held on the sidelines of the ongoing annual full session of the Tenth National People's Congress.

All the progress show that the forum has become a new platform to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between China and the Arab countries. This year the second Sino-Arabic ministerial meeting will be held in Beijing, said Li.

He said, "We are willing to make efforts with all Arab nations to deepen cooperation of the forum in different fields and promote the Sino-Arabic relations to develop consistently in the new period,"

He said China has always attached importance to the Middle East affairs and is devoted to the realization of peace and stability in the region. China stands for developing inter-country relations within the region on the basis of mutual respect and benefit. China has also endeavored to promote peace and negotiation in the region.

"With joint efforts of international community, we will pursue solutions to various issues including the conflicts between Palestine and Israel," he said.

The Middle East has its unique historic tradition, religious belief and cultural characters. All acts concerning the region should be helpful in finding peaceful solutions to the hot issues in the region and promoting the realization of peace, stability and development, he said.

"We should respect the will of nations and peoples in the region and facilitate consultations between the countries in the region," he said.

Putin's visit to boost China-Russia relations

At the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao, Russia's President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit China later this month, said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing here on Tuesday.

"The visit is expected to boost the all-round development of the Sino-Russian Strategic Partnership of Cooperation, and facilitate world peace, stability and development," he said.

Li said during Putin's visit, the two presidents would jointly attend the opening ceremony of "the Year of Russia" in China and a Sino-Russia high-level business forum.

The two sides would also issue political documents and sign a series of mutual cooperative treaties.

Li made the remarks at a press conference held on the sidelines of the ongoing annual full session of the Tenth National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

China maintains friendly relations with Palestine

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said here Tuesday that China is willing to continue the traditional friendly relations with Palestine and seriously consider its requests for further assistance.

"China and Palestine enjoy a profound traditional friendship, and China has been providing support and assistance to Palestine within its capacity," Li said at a press conference.

Peaceful means and political negotiation are the correct road to the settlement of the Middle East issue. It is China's hope that Palestine and Israel could continue to observe the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and the principle of "land for peace," and resolve their differences through dialogue, the Chinese foreign minister said.

"China firmly support the Middle East peace process and has been mediating among the parties concerned in its own ways," Li told the press conference held on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of China's national legislature.

"We will continue to cooperate with the parties concerned and play a constructive role for an early realization of peace and stability in the Middle East," he said.

China's defense budget much smaller than that of US

China's defense budget is much smaller than that of the United States despite the expected rise of 14.7 percent this year, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said here Tuesday.

The per capita defense budget of China is only one-seventy-seventh that of the United States, Li said at a press conference held on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Li made the remarks when answering a question raised by a reporter of Bloomberg based in the United States.

The increase will bring China's defense budget to 280.729 billion yuan (35 billion U.S. dollars) in 2006.

The budget increase is to strengthen China's capability of defense and response to emergencies, and to raise the pay of officers and soldiers, said a budget report submitted to the NPC session on Sunday.

The minister told the press conference that one should learn to see through the budget figure and seek basic facts behind the percentage when commenting on China's defense budget increase.

China has "transparent" military policies, which are "completely defensive in nature," Li said.

China's vast territory demands advanced military equipment, which in turn needs costly upgrade and reinforcement, said Guo Xinning, a researcher with the University of National Defense.

Compared with 17.8 percent of the United States, 11.4 percent of France and 9.25 percent of Germany, China's defense budget in 2005 accounted for only 7.34 percent of the budgeted fiscal expenditure, even lower than that in the 1970s, Guo said.

"The increase in military budget is actually an effort to narrow the gap," the expert said.

General Wang Yufa, an NPC deputy from the People's Liberation Army, said China adopts a defensive military strategy, and the defense budget is raised to create a stable and safe environment for the country's economic development.

China to build strategic partnership with African countries

China and African countries will build a politically supportive, economically win-win and cultural closely-related strategic partnership, said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said here Tuesday.

Li made the remarks at a press conference held on the sidelines of the ongoing annual full session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

The year 2006 witnessed the 50th anniversary of the founding of the China-African relations. The Sino-African relations have stood the tests of time and drastic international changes.

He said recently he visited some African countries and found the Sino-African relations had a solid foundation. In Liberia, he saw the peace keeping troops dispatched by China had harmonious relations with local citizens and played a positive role in maintaining the local peace and stability.

"In Nigeria, because my schedule and the schedule of Nigerian foreign minister were both packed, I made a two-hour-long official visit to Nigeria and had a talk with Nigerian foreign minister in a meeting room at airport. But the visit was successful," he said.

In Cape Verde, "I received warm reception and was deeply moved by the country leaders' modest attitude," he said, adding that although the country is small, Cape Verde always upheld justice ininternational community. The country upheld one-China policy and justice in the reform of the United Nations.

Vatican should not intervene with China's internal affairs

China hopes the Vatican will not intervene in its internal affairs in any form, said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing here on Tuesday in response to a question that the Vatican appointed a Hong Kong person as the cardinal-bishop recently.

"We hope the Vatican will not maintain a so-called diplomatic relations with a province or a locality of China," Li said at a press conference held on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of the Tenth National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong, and Hong Kong is Chinese people's, including Hong Kong compatriots', said Li, adding that China is happy to see the achievements made by the Hong Kong compatriots under the leadership of the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government.

"With the regard to the affairs in Hong Kong, We will abide bythe Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law of Hong Kong. "

China makes great efforts in IPR protection

China has taken measures in legislative, judicial, law-enforcement and education fields to strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said here Tuesday.

Li made the remark at a press conference held on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

He said that in 2005 alone, China's industrial and commercial authorities dealt with more than 39,000 trade mark infringement cases. And Chinese courts heard more than 3,500 IPR-related cases.

Iran nuclear issue should be resolved through diplomacy, negotiation

The Iran nuclear issue should be resolved through diplomatic channels and negotiation, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said here Tuesday.

"We support the maintenance of nuclear non-proliferation mechanism, oppose nuclear weapon proliferation and resolve the Iran nuclear issue as early as possible through diplomacy and negotiation," said Li.

He stressed that it is very important for the international community to keep the consensus of resolving the issue diplomatically as there is still room for resolving the issue under the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The international community should not give up efforts toward this goal.

He hoped negotiations on the issue would yield positive results and called on all parties concerned to remain calm, restrained, patient and flexible to seek a diplomatic solution.

China is ready to maintain communication and coordination with all nations concerned for properly resolving the issue and for peace, he said.

Zhang Yan, director of the Department of Arms Control and Disarmament under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is now in Vienna working on the issue, he said.

Li made the remarks at a press conference held on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

President Hu to visit US soon

Chinese President Hu Jintao is going to visit the United States shortly, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said here Tuesday.

It is the first time that Hu visits the United States as Chinese president. Both sides are busy preparing for the visit, Li said at a press conference held on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Li stressed that the Taiwan issue is the "biggest" factor affecting Sino-U.S. relations, expressing the hope that the U.S. side sticks to the one-China policy, observes the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, has a clear understanding of the dangerous nature of "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and activities, and takes concrete measures to oppose such attempts.

The minister called on the U.S. side not to send false signals to "Taiwan independence" secessionists and work together with China to safeguard the peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits region and the overall interests in Sino-U.S. relations.

"We are ready to work with the U.S. side to strengthen mutual understanding, expand common ground, deepen mutual trust, promote cooperation, and properly settle our differences with a view of promoting the sound development of bilateral relations," Li said.

China calls for early resumption of six-party talks

China will continue to work for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in East Asia and to facilitate the talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said here on Tuesday afternoon.

"China has maintained communication and coordination with all parties involved for the early resumption of the six-party talks, "Li told a press conference held on the sidelines of the ongoing annual full session of the Tenth National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

He didn't directly answer the question of a correspondent from the Republic of Korea (ROK) whether the six-party talks will resume before Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the United States scheduled for April.

The six-party talks, which aim to find a peaceful solution to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, involve China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United States, the ROK, Russia and Japan. The talks have so far been held for five rounds in Beijing.

Calling the joint statement issued last year following the fourth-round talks a "hard-won result that should be cherished, "Li said China believes that as long as all parties have sincerity, demonstrate flexibility and have the overall security situation of Northeast Asia in mind, the negotiation will "achieve positive progress gradually."

"We hope all parties concerned can adhere to dialogue and consultation, take more confidence-building steps, and be both pragmatic and flexible to implement the joint statement," the minister urged.

FM pledges good protection of citizens abroad

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Tuesday the government will do its best to protect its citizens abroad, and he advised them to better protect themselves in the meantime.

He suggested Chinese citizens learn local laws and customs and abide by them when traveling overseas, and keep in mind the phone numbers of Chinese embassies and consulates in foreign countries.

"Serving the people is the essence of China's diplomacy. It foremost serves peace, development and cooperation and meanwhile safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and legal entities abroad," said Li at a press conference held on the sideline of the annual session of China's National People's Congress.

Last year, more than 31 million Chinese citizens made trips abroad, and China's embassies and consulates handled nearly 30,000consular cases, Li said.

In the road accident in Egypt and the attack of three Chinese engineers in Pakistan, China's ministries of foreign affairs and commerce and relevant diplomatic organs acted quickly to help the Chinese citizens involved.

"Some Chinese overseas told me that these incidents made them feel proud of being a Chinese," said the foreign minister.