The Foreign Ministry said yesterday that China supports the
negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue between Russia and Iran
and hopes for a positive outcome.
"Given current developments, China hopes Iran will suspend all
activities relating to uranium enrichment and create the conditions
necessary for resolving the issue through negotiations," the
ministry's spokesperson Liu Jianchao said at yesterday's regular
press conference.
His remarks were made after two days of talks between Russian
and Iranian nuclear negotiators on the issue ended in Moscow
without a deal.
"China will, as always, communicate with the parties concerned,
and continue to make diplomatic efforts to properly handle the
issue within the framework of the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA)," he added.
Referring to Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister
Toshihiro Nikai's visit that began yesterday, Liu confirmed that
Premier Wen
Jiabao and State councilor Tang
Jiaxuan will meet with him.
He said bilateral economic cooperation is generally good at
present, "but we hope the Japanese side adopts a sincere attitude
to resolving the existing political difficulties."
He said that Japanese leaders' repeated visits to the Yasukuni
Shrine honoring 14 Class-A WWII war criminals along with the
nation's war dead have strained
China-Japan relations.
China has always taken a clear and firm attitude on the issue,
which is also stated clearly in the three political documents
signed by the two countries.
"We hope that the Japanese side will cast away illusions and
stop seeking excuses to whitewash history, or even shift any
responsibility to the Chinese side," Liu said.
When asked to comment on Pakistan's intention to become a full
member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO),
Liu said China will convey the message to every member country of
the organization.
The SCO has an open membership policy, Liu said, adding that the
member states are now discussing to determine the status of the
four observer countries so as to better promote cooperation within
the organization framework.
The member states of SCO have reached a consensus to further
build up the organization and deepen cooperation in various fields,
Liu said.
Liu also announced that Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister
Kasymzhomart Tokayev will visit China from February 26 to March 1
at the invitation of Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing.
He said that Wen and Tang will meet with him respectively and
the two foreign ministers will hold talks.
He said the two sides will exchange views on the development of
bilateral relations, and strengthening cooperation between member
states of the SCO will be an important topic as the next SCO summit
is to be held in Shanghai this year.
"The Chinese side attaches great importance to Tokayev's
forthcoming visit and hopes it will further promote bilateral
friendship and cooperation," Liu said.
He said Kazakhstan is one of China's very important neighbors
and the two countries enjoy sound cooperation in various fields
such as politics, economy, trade, anti-terrorism, and fighting
against the "three forces," namely, separatism, extremism and
terrorism.
The two countries have also enjoyed good relations within the
framework of the SCO, Liu said, and have strengthened their
economic and trade ties.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily February 22, 2006)