VZCZCXRO8429
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #2847/01 2861153
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 131153Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6394
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6996
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3607
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002847
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PARM CH KS KN RS IR AF IN PK UK
SUBJECT: OCTOBER 13 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DPRK MISSILES, NOBEL PRIZE,
A/S CAMPBELL VISIT
1. Key points at the October 13 MFA press briefing:
-- North Korea's recent short-range missile test would not affect
the improving situation on the Korean Peninsula.
-- China congratulated President Obama on being awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize.
-- During his visit to China, A/S Campbell would discuss issues of
bilateral, international and regional importance, including the
upcoming visit of President Obama to China.
-- A British citizen currently facing the death penalty in China was
convicted of drug trafficking in 2008 and was now having his case
reviewed by the Supreme People's Court.
North Korean Missiles
---------------------
2. China had noted reports that North Korea had recently tested
short-range missiles, said spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu at the October 13
regularly scheduled MFA press conference. The test would not affect
the improving situation on the Korean Peninsula, asserted Ma. China
hoped relevant parties would jointly promote peace and stability and
the denuclearization of Korean Peninsula.
Nobel Peace Prize
-----------------
3. China had taken note that President Obama had been awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize. In particular, China noted that the award was
given for his role in promoting diplomacy and people-to-people
exchanges. China congratulated President Obama on the award, said
the spokesperson.
A/S Campbell Visit to China
---------------------------
4. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell would visit Beijing
from October 12-14. During his visit, he would meet with Vice
Foreign Ministers He Yafei and Wu Dawei, as well as officials from
the Ministries of Education and Commerce. During his meetings, he
would discuss issues of bilateral, international and regional
importance, including the upcoming visit of President Obama to
China.
British Citizen Death Penalty Case
----------------------------------
5. A British citizen currently facing the death penalty in China had
been convicted of drug trafficking in 2008 and was now having his
case reviewed by the Supreme People's Court, said Ma. The British
citizen had been treated in line with relevant laws. During his
trial, the defendant had been given an opportunity to defend himself
and had been provided with an interpreter. Regarding claims that
the British citizen was mentally unstable, Ma said that the British
Embassy had proposed a psychological examination but "did not offer
proof." The defendant himself claimed that neither he nor his
family had a history of mental illness, said Ma.
China-India Border
------------------
6. The China-India border had not been officially demarcated and
China and India had different positions on the issue, noted the
spokesperson. China was dissatisfied that despite the grave
concerns of China, Indian leaders had recently visited a disputed
area. To ensure the stable development of bilateral relations,
China hoped India would take seriously Chinese concerns and not
provoke an incident.
SCO Meetings
-----------
7. The upcoming meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO) would be a major multilateral meeting since the start of the
financial crisis, said Ma. The meeting would build on the
accomplishments of the previous meeting at Yekaterinburg and the
spokesman was "sure it would be a success." Over the course of the
SCO meetings, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao would meet with Russian
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. During his October 13-15 visit to
China, Putin would sign deals on technological and economic
cooperation and attend events related to the 60th anniversary of
bilateral relations. Wen would also meet with Iranian Vice
President Reza Rahimi October 14. Wen and Chinese President Hu
Jintao would meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani
during his visit from October 12-15 to exchange views on bilateral
and other issues.
BEIJING 00002847 002 OF 002
Nepal
-----
8. The spokesperson refused to comment on Nepal's domestic political
situation in response to a question on political stability in that
country.
HUNTSMAN