INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: June 20 Mfa Press Briefing: Dprk Missile Launch,

Published: Tue 20 Jun 2006 10:04 AM
VZCZCXRO4557
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH
DE RUEHBJ #3022/01 1711004
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 201004Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9682
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 0049
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0233
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 0353
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 0041
RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA 0062
RUEHLU/AMEMBASSY LUANDA 0079
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 0559
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1382
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BEIJING 013022
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH KN
SUBJECT: JUNE 20 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DPRK MISSILE LAUNCH,
AFRICAN ENERGY DEALS, RUSSIAN G-8, DEPSEC ZOELLICK'S
RESIGNATION, ASSAULTED THREE GORGES DAM ACTIVIST, AND THE
NEXT UN SECRETARY GENERAL
Summary
-------
1. Key points made at the June 20 MFA press briefing are as
follows:
-- China has "taken note" of reports of an impending DPRK
missile launch.
-- China will send an official delegation to the African
Union Summit in July. China and Angola will sign a series of
treaties involving law enforcement and economics during
Premier Wen Jiabao's current visit. China hopes to
consolidate its relations with Africa and expand their
development.
-- President Hu will attend the dialogue with developing
countries during July's G-8 Summit in Russia in order to
discuss energy security and African development. China
stands ready to enhance G-8 dialogue and cooperation.
-- China appreciates former Deputy Secretary of State
Zoellick's role in enhancing Sino-U.S. relations.
-- A task force is investigating the incident which left
Three Gorges Dam activist Fu Xiancai severely injured.
-- China is ready for dialogue with the Vatican.
-- China supports an Asian Secretary General to succeed Kofi
Annan.
-- President Karzai and President Hu signed anti-terrorist
and anti-drug treaties during their June 19th meeting.
-- Australian PM Howard will visit China from June 27-29.
Possible DPRK Missile Launch
----------------------------
2. Jiang Yu was evasive whn pressed during the regular June
20 MFA press briefing about China's reaction and expected
response to reports of an impending missile launch by the
DPRK. Jiang stated only that China had "taken note" of such
reports. The Six-Party Talks are encountering difficulties
and China hopes for an early resumption of the talks, she
said. China is working to press ahead with the talks and
maintains close communications with relevant parties, she
asserted.
Sino-African Relations and Energy Development
---------------------------------------------
3. China will send an official delegation to the African
Union Summit (AUS) in July, Jiang answered when asked if
China planned to attend. China has historically supported
the AUS and considers the AUS the most representative
regional organization in Africa. The AUS plays a major role
in safeguarding African peace and stability, Jiang stated.
4. Asked by the Bloomberg reporter whether Premier Wen
Jiabao's current African trip was targeted primarily towards
energy development, Jiang stated that the Premier's visit
focused on all of Africa. China hopes to consolidate its
relations and expand development towards Africa under a "new
type of strategic partnership", she said. Queried
specifically about energy deals with Angola and the Congo,
Jiang stated that China and Angola will sign a series of
treaties involving law enforcement and economics. China's
energy policy is designed to ensure self reliance, Jiang
stated. China's oil consumption is one eighth that of the
United States and China's level of oil reliance is much lower
than that of developed countries, Jiang stressed. China's
crude oil imports are limited and China's overall oil
consumption is only 8 percent of the world total. China
seeks to develop an energy policy based on mutually
beneficial exchanges and relations, Jiang added.
Sino-Saudi Arabian Oil Deals
----------------------------
5. Sino-Saudi Arabian cooperation on energy development has
BEIJING 00013022 002 OF 003
its own unique advantages, Jiang said, when asked if China
was close to signing an oil agreement with Saudi Arabia.
China will continue to cooperate with Saudi Arabia in order
to improve China's mechanism to enhance its strategic oil
reserves, Jiang said.
China and the Upcoming G-8 Summit
--------------------------------
6. President Hu will attend the G-8's dialogue with
developing countries during July's G-8 Summit in Russia,
Jiang said when asked if China wanted to join the G-8. The
main theme of the dialogue meeting will be energy security
and African development, she stated. China's relations with
the G-8 will also be discussed. The G-8 plays an important
role in international political and economic affairs, Jiang
said, and although China is still a developing nation, China
believes developed nations should partner with developing
countries to meet global challenges. China stands ready to
enhance G-8 dialogue and cooperation, Jiang stated.
Deputy Secretary Zoellick
-------------------------
7. China appreciates former Deputy Secretary of State
Zoellick's role in furthering Sino-U.S. relations, Jiang said
when asked to comment on Zoellick's resignation. Zoellick
enhanced mutual trust during two rounds of Strategic Dialogue
and China hopes that Zoellick's successor will continue this
trend.
Valiant Shield
--------------
8. China actively participates in military-to-military
exchanges in order to enhance mutual trust and cooperation,
Jiang stated, when asked what Sino-U.S. cooperation during
upcoming Valiant Shield exercises meant for military
relations between China and the United States.
Three Gorges Dam Activist Assaulted
-----------------------------------
9. German reporters demanded to know what China's response
was to the serious injuries sustained at the hands of Public
Security Bureau officials by Three Gorges Dam activist Fu
Xiancai and whether his injuries were sustained as a result
of being interviewed by a German news program. German
reporters asked for China's response to intervention in the
case by the German Embassy who had sent both a political
officer and a doctor to oversee and assist with Fu's care.
Jiang responded by asserting that Fu's medical treatment
should not be interfered with and that a task force was
investigating the matter in accordance with law.
Sino-Vatican Relations
---------------------
10. China is ready for dialogue with the Vatican, said Jiang
when asked if Beijing and the Vatican were currently engaged
in dialogue to ease strained relations.
The Next UN Secretary General
-----------------------------
11. China supports an Asian Secretary General to succeed
current UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Jiang stated, when
asked who China would like to see as Annan's successor. The
selection will require full deliberation by all parties, but
Asian nations should be represented, Jiang stated.
12. On June 19 Afghan President Karzai met with President Hu
Jintao, Jiang said. They signed treaties designed to
strengthen anti-terrorism and anti-drug cooperation, Jiang
stated, when asked if anti-terrorism was the primary focus of
the Sino-Afghan meeting. China respects and supports
Afghanistan's efforts to maintain national stability and push
forward its reconstruction, she said.
Visits
------
BEIJING 00013022 003 OF 003
13. PM Howard of Australia will visit China from June 27-29
and meet with Premier Wen Jiabao. PM Howard will attend the
opening ceremony of the "Liquefied Natural Gas Program" in
Guangdong.
RANDT
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media