On the afternoon of December 7, 2010, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Yu held a regular press conference.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu said Tuesday that the Nobel Committee's decision to grant the Peace Prize to convicted political prisoner Liu Xiaobo was tantamount to overt support for criminal activities in China, and a gross interference in China's judicial sovereignty.

Q: The Norwegian King and Queen will attend the Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony on Friday. Do you consider it a kind of support of criminal activities in China?

A: By awarding this year's Nobel Peace Prize to a criminal serving his sentence because of breaking Chinese law, the Norwegian Nobel Committee's move constitutes open support of illegal criminal activities in China and flagrant interference in China's judicial sovereignty. The erroneous decision not only has met with firm opposition by the entire Chinese nation, but is dismissed by the vast majority of countries upholding justice in the world.

As far as I know, over 100 countries and international organizations around the world have expressed their explicit support so far for China's position of opposition to this year's Nobel Peace Prize. This fully shows the majority of the international community does not accept the erroneous decision of the Nobel Committee.

Follow-up: Since the Norwegian King and Queen are the most important dignitaries attending the Award Ceremony, do you think it means the Norwegian King is supporting illegal activities in China?

A: This question should be left to the King and Queen themselves. What they think about attending the ceremony is clear to no others but themselves. I have expounded on the Chinese Government's position. The Chinese side has also expressed its solemn position to the Norwegian Government.

I would like to stress that China's judicial sovereignty and solemnness of its law brook no infringement. Any attempt to challenge China's judicial system or even to change China's political system and development path by making an issue out of Mr.Liu Xiaobo will come to nothing. If some people believe they can change China by exerting pressure on the country with Cold War practices, they are too naïve.

Follow-up: The Chinese leader met with the Norwegian King during the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. Is there any possibility that the two heads of state meet again in the future?

A: By openly supporting the extremely erroneous decision by the Nobel Committee, the Norwegian Government has destroyed the political foundation and environment for cooperation in bilateral relations. I think it is difficult for China and Norway to continue their sound relationship as in the past. It is the Norwegian side that creates the obstacle and thus it must take all the responsibility.

The basic norms governing country-to-country exchanges are mutual respect and equal treatment.