Q: Please brief us on the Third General Assembly of the AAPP.

A: The Assembly will be held from April 16 to 19 in Beijing and Chongqing. The main theme is “peace and development”. Discussions will be centered on such topics as global multi-polarity and world peace which are the common interest of the international community, economic globalization and the developing countries, enhancement of international cooperation as well as promotion of the establishment of the new international economic and political order. Participants will seek collective wisdom and common ground while shelving around differences, have friendly consultations and expand common consensus, in that spirit, Chongqing Declaration of the AAPP will be passed through on the Assembly.

AAPP is a regional inter-parliamental organization whose members are parliaments of the sovereign states in Asia and the Pacific region. It was set up in Dakar, capital of Bangladesh in September 1999 and has 36 members at present.


Q: Chairman Nguyen Van An of the National Assembly of Vietnam will visit China and attend the Third General Assembly of the AAPP. What’s your comment on his visit and the relations between the parliaments of the two countries?

A: Chairman Nguyen Van An of the National Assembly of Vietnam will pay an official good-will visit to China starting from April 14. At present, bilateral ties enjoy good momentum of development with frequent exchanges of high level visits. The two sides have smooth cooperation in the field of economy, trade and culture. NPC and the National Assembly have close contact and frequent exchanges. I believe that this visit will play a very constructive role in promoting the bilateral ties in the new century.

We are also very happy to learn that Chairman Nguyen Van An will attend the Assembly in Beijing and Chongqing. The Assembly will review many issues of common interest of the parliaments of Asian countries. The presence of Chairman Nguyen Van An is very constructive to enhancing contact and understanding among the Asian parliaments as well as providing an opportunity to discuss some important issues.


Q: It’s reported that Japan and the US will jointly form a working group to salvage the sunken ship in the East China Sea, what’s your comment?

A: We express serious concern over the related report and have demanded a clarification from the Japanese side through diplomatic channel. The Japanese side clearly notes that there is no such case at all.


Q: President Jiang is now visiting Germany and this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between the two countries. What’s your comment on the results and significance of President Jiang’s visit?

A: At the invitation of President Johannes Rao of Germany, President Jiang is now paying a state visit to Germany starting from April 8.

During his visit, President Jiang met and had talks with President Rao, Chancellor Schroedor and leaders of various political parties, meeting with former Chancellor Kohl and former Foreign Minister Genscher. The two sides have extensive exchange of views on further promotion of the all-round cooperation and friendship oriented towards the 21st century as well as international issues of common interest. Wide range of consensus was reached. President Jiang delivered a speech titled “To Jointly Create a New Century of Peace and Prosperity” at the Foreign Policy Association and made remarks at the dinner with the business circle. The two sides signed a Note of the Meeting on Mutual Establishment of Cultural Centers and Accord of Mutual Recognition of Higher Education between the Government of PRC and the Government of Germany. President Jiang will also visit Sachsen and the Nieder Sachsen and the Volkswagen Automobile Company. We are satisfied with the results of the visit, believing that this visit will further promote the development of China-German and China-European relations and definitely achieve the goal of enhancing friendship and trust as well as expanding cooperation oriented towards the future.


Q: President Jiang will visit Libya, which is the first visit of leaders of China. How significant will this visit be?

A: President Jiang’s visit is to reciprocate the visit of General Qathafi, leader of Libya, to China in 1982. Libya and China enjoy friendly relations. China’s highest level of visit to Libya will strengthen the friendship between the two peoples and greatly promote the existing friendship and cooperation between the two nations. The visit is of great significance.


Q: Sources say that the Chinese Government will donate to the Bo’ao Asia Forum, please confirm.

A: The first annual session of Bo’ao Asia Forum will be held in Bo’ao, Hainan Province of China from April 12 to 13. The Chinese Governement decides to donate 8 million dollars to the Forum to endorse its development.

The Forum is an important venue for dialogue on development, population and environment in Asia. It’s also of great significance in promoting the dialogue at the level of enterprises and NGOs. The Chinese Government attaches importance and endorses dialogue and cooperation at various levels, through various channels and in various fields. Premier Zhu will also attend this Forum.


Q: The Japanese Prime Minister will attend the first annual session of Asia Forum. What expectations does China have out of the meetings with him? What results will this Forum achieve?

A: Japanese Prime Minister will be in Bo’ao today to attend the Forum where he will deliver a speech there. Premier Zhu will meet and exchange views with him on issues of common interest.

We believe that Bo’ao Asia Forum is a very important venue for Asian countries to gather together and discuss such topics as regional development, population and environment. The main theme of the Forum is “New century, new situation and new tasks—cooperation and development of Asian economies. As the host country, China hopes that positive results can be achieved.


Q: House of Representatives of the US will form a Taiwan Group so as to strengthen cooperation between the US and Taiwan. Under Secretary of Treasury also starts out to visit Taiwan today. A series of incidents recently seem not to bode well for China-US relations. According to Hongkong Press, Taiwan question will be the focus of discussion during Vice President Hu’s visit to the US. And he hopes to get a clear US response to China on the military exchanges between the US and Taiwan and avoidance of a “US-Taiwan military alliance”. What’s your comment?

A: China has always been opposed to any form of official and military exchanges between the US and Taiwan. The committee put together by a handful of people in the House is a violation of the principle of the three Joint Communiqués. We express our strong dissatisfaction. The healthy development of China-US relations serve the common interests of both peoples. Any attempt to undermine the bilateral ties will get nowhere.

On the second part of your question, I’d like to note that China has always been opposed to any form of official and military exchanges between the US and Taiwan. Taiwan question remains to be the most sensitive issue at the heart of China-US relations. The US Government has made very serious commitment to the Chinese Government and people. Smooth development of bilateral ties will not be possible without the US adherence to the One China policy and relevant principles in the three Joint Communiqués as well as an end to interference in China’s internal affairs. We demand that the US must abide by the principles of the three Joint Communiqués and stop interfering in China’s internal affaires under the pretext of the Taiwan question so as to prevent the bilateral relations from being further undermined.


Q: No anti-China human rights draft resolution was tabled at this year’s Session of the UN Human Rights Commission. What’s your comment? Besides, early this week, Amnesty International issued a report, criticizing China and the US and accusing China of execution abuses. What’s your comment?

A: China has a consistent position on human rights. We call for dialogue and exchanges on the basis of equality and mutual respect with a view to enhancing understanding and common consensus as well as promoting the healthy development of the international human rights undertakings. We have taken note that China’s approach has won recognition of more and more nations in the world and is turning into the main theme day by day.

On your second question, we believe that whether to apply capital punishment or not depends on how to best protect the interest of the people of a nation and safeguard social stability. Although China still has death penalty, we have always adopted the policy of strict control of the punishment. There are very strict stipulations in the Chinese law on the application and a procedure of review is also required. The Amnesty International’s accusation of China is groundless.


Q: Last month, Deputy Defense Secretary Wolfowitz of the US said that the US would do whatever it takes to protect Taiwan. Has China taken note of the relevant report? Does it represent, in your view, the US policy towards Taiwan?

A: I stated China’s position on this matter here last time. We believe that Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China, baring no foreign interference. The remarks of the senior military official of the US are serious violations of the commitment made by the US Government in the three Joint Communiqués and blatant interference of China’ s internal affairs, to which China is resolutely opposed.

I’d also like to stress here that the continuing US arms sales to Taiwan and elevating the US-Taiwan relations will only fuel the splitting flames of the forces for the “independence of Taiwan”, further escalate the tensions across the Straits and undermine the interests of the US itself in the end. We once again urge the US to abide by its commitment to China and put an end to its erroneous acts so as to prevent the bilateral ties from being undermined further.


Q: Iraq recently decided to suspend its oil export to the US, what’s your comment? Do you think it will affect the oil security of China?

A: At present tensions are still running high in the current Middle East situation. We strongly appeal to Israel for an immediate end of the invasion of the Palestinian territories so that things can calm down. The Israeli side should implement the relevant resolutions of the Security Council immediately and without any conditions, lift the siege of President Arafat at an earlier date so as to avoid more serious chained reactions.


Q: The mainland has repeatedly stressed that Taiwan is not a sovereign state and unqualified to join the WHO. But to my knowledge, WHO granted membership to non-sovereign entities in the past. Will the mainland allow Taiwan to join the WHO in a way acceptable to the mainland since it bares upon Taiwan people’s well-beings? Is it possible for Taiwan to join the WHO in a way as it joins the WTO?

A: WHO is a special agency of the UN system, whose membership is limited to only sovereign states. As only part of China, Taiwan is not qualified to participate its activities. With regard to other models to join the organization, there are clear stipulations in its Constitution and relevant regulations. It’s very clear that only sovereign states can participate relevant activities.

The Central Government of the People’s Republic of China has cared for the health of the Taiwan compatriots and has always vigorously promoted the exchanges and cooperation across the Straits in the field of sanitation. The channel for Taiwan compatriots to get sanitary information is unblocked. The key is that the Taiwan Authorities should accept the principle of One China at an earlier date and respond to the mainland on cooperation across the Straits. As a matter of fact, the real goal of the attempt of the Taiwan Authorities to squeeze into WHO is to create “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan” in the world, about which vast majority of countries are very clear.


Q: It’s reported by Hongkong press that Vice President Hu will visit Malaysia, Singapore and the US from April 23 to May 3. Can you confirm? Or the reports are not correct?

A: I don’t know the sources of the reports. But as I briefed you last time, China and relevant countries are actively making preparations for the visit. I will let you know as soon as I get any clear information.