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O 262257Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6616
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0376
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0675
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4964
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0718
RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI 0802
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 002980
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PARM EAID CH IR IS AF IN JA
SUBJECT: OCTOBER 27 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: CHINA-AFRICA COOPERATION,
IRAN, TIBETANS, FOREIGN POLICY.
1. Key points at the October 27 MFA press briefing:
-- China would deepen ties with Egypt and promote China-Africa and
China-Arab ties at the early November Ministerial Conference of the
Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt
-- China hoped relevant parties would quickly reach a consensus on
IAEA's proposal to supply fuel to Iran's nuclear reactors.
-- PRC authorities had strictly followed Chinese criminal law and
legal procedures in convicting and executing two Tibetans for
involvement in the March 14 incident.
-- China adopted an independent foreign policy and would continue to
play a positive and cooperative role in world affairs.
China-Africa Forum
--------------------
2. Asked about China's expectations for the 4th Ministerial
Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to be
held in early November in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, MFA spokesperson
Ma Zhaoxu replied that Egypt was the first African-Arab country to
establish ties with China and that this year marked the 10th
anniversary of Sino-Egypt strategic and cooperative ties. China
looked to further deepen its pragmatic links with Egypt and to
promote China-Africa and China-Arab relations. China expected the
4th Ministerial Conference to build off cooperative results since
the 2006 Beijing Summit and 3rd Ministerial Conference. The meeting
would be of great significance to advancing China-African relations
and to strengthening joint cooperation across the board. Ma added
that one could expect to see cooperative agreements signed, the
issuance of a FOCAC Sharm el-Sheikh declaration, and a 2010-2012
Action Plan meant to guide the future course of bilateral relations
and as a blueprint for cooperative efforts for the next three years.
Turning to aid, Ma stated that China's aid to African countries
would be continuous and long-term. China and Africa would continue
to exchange views on trade and economic cooperation "so as to reach
a new consensus."
Iran
-----
3. Asked for China's position on Iranian press articles calling for
cooperation and fuel supply from China, Ma responded that
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohamed
ElBaradei had put forward a proposal for the supply of fuel to
Iran's nuclear reactors. China hoped the parties through
consultations would reach a consensus at an early date.
Executions of Tibetans
-----------------------
4. Asked whether China had executed two Tibetans convicted of
involvement in the March 14 incident, Ma confirmed that "two
criminals had been executed." Regarding the March 14 convictions,
PRC authorities had strictly followed Chinese criminal law and legal
procedures, Ma added. Lawyers of the defendants fully expressed
their views, Tibetan interpreters were provided, ensuring the
legitimate rights of the defendants were guaranteed. The cases were
handled according to law and the trials were reviewed and approved
by the Supreme People's Court. Ma referred the journalist to
China's judicial authorities for more thorough answers.
U.S. Embargo on Cuba
--------------------
5. Asked for China's position on the U.S. embargo on Cuba, Ma stated
that the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) held a vote on
lifting the U.S. embargo. China's position was that all countries
should abide by the UN charter, and that state-to-state relations
should be based on equality and mutual respect. China maintained
that the embargo should be lifted at an early date.
ROK Veteran to DPRK
--------------------
6. Asked for information on the 81-year old Republic of Korea (ROK)
veteran, Choi Sung-yong, arrested by Chinese authorities after
escaping from 57 years of captivity in North Korea, Ma replied that
he had no specific information on this case. Regarding "illegal
border crossers," China followed international law and humanitarian
principles.
BEIJING 00002980 002 OF 002
China Espionage Case
--------------------
7. Asked to comment on the U.S. arrest of a Chinese national, former
Ford Motor Company engineer Yu Xiangdong, on charges of espionage,
Ma replied that he was not aware of case specifics but noted that
China was closely following this case to ensure that the national's
rights were guaranteed. China's Consul General in Chicago had
already sent officers to visit Yu according to the regulations of
China-U.S. Consular Treaty.
Principle of Non-interference
------------------------------
8. Asked whether China's increasingly active role in world affairs
was consistent with China's policy of noninterference in other
countries' internal policies, Spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu told the
journalist that his question "should be raised in academic
seminars." China adopted an independent foreign policy consistent
with its path of peaceful development and the building of a
harmonious world, Ma added. China would continue to play a positive
and cooperative role in world affairs and in building a harmonious
world. China's principle of non-interference was universally
acknowledged and was in line with its five principles of peaceful
coexistence.
U.S. Plane in Guangdong
------------------------
9. Responding to the reported discovery of a U.S. B-29 bomber that
had crashed in Guangdong Province on November 5, 1950 -- shortly
before China's attack on U.S. troops in Korea -- Ma replied that he
had no information on the matter and would get back to the
journalist.
Visits
-------
10. Premier Wen Jiabao at the invitation of Egyptian Prime Minister
Ahmed Mohamed Nazif planned to visit Egypt November 6-7. On
November 8, Premier Wen would attend the opening ceremony of the 4th
Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation
(FOCAC) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
11. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Minister of Commerce Chen
Deming would head a delegation to the FOCAC November 8-9.
12. At the invitation of Foreign Minister Yang, Finland Foreign
Minister Alex Stubb would visit China November 2-3.
HUNTSMAN