VZCZCXRO3942
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH
DE RUEHBJ #9934/01 1431002
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 231002Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6252
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1331
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1936
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0629
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1093
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0929
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 009934 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL CH JP KN GE
SUBJECT: PRC MAY 23 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: DPRK FM TO  VISIT 
CHINA, A/S HILL'S BEIJING VISIT, CHINA-JAPAN FM  MEETING, 
HAMAS FM VISIT, MONTENEGRO REFERENDUM. 
 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  Key points made at the May 23 MFA press briefing 
are as follows: 
 
-- DPRK Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun will visit China 
May 30-June 6 for talks on bilateral and regional 
security issues, meet senior PRC leaders and tour 
Guangzhou. 
 
-- EAP A/S Christopher Hill will visit Beijing May 24- 
25 to meet with VFM Wu Dawei to exchange views on the 
Six-Party Talks.  The Six-Party Talks are facing 
"severe difficulties." 
 
-- PRC FM Li Zhaoxing will meet with Japan FM Taro Aso 
at the Doha summit on May 23. 
 
-- The U.S. and China should drop trade barriers to 
trade in high tech in order to maintain bilateral 
trade growth momentum. 
 
-- China invited all members of the China-Arab Forum, 
including the Palestinian Authority, to send 
representatives to Beijing. 
 
-- China respects the results of the Montenegro 
referendum and believes the two sides can work out 
their difficulties through friendly consultation. 
 
-- China was among countries that aided Iran's 
peaceful nuclear program under IAEA and NPT 
guidelines.  Beijing will not accept groundless 
accusations regarding peaceful nuclear assistance. 
 
-- German Chancellor Merkel discussed human rights and 
trade issues with leaders in Beijing. 
 
-- UN SYG Annan discussed regional and China-Japan 
relations during his China visit. 
 
End Summary. 
 
DPRK Foreign Minister to Visit Beijing, Guangzhou 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶2.  North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam Sun will 
visit Beijing and Guangzhou, May 30-June 6, MFA 
Spokesperson Liu Jianchao stated during his regular 
May 23 press briefing.  Paek will hold talks with FM 
Li Zhaoxing and other PRC leaders on regional and 
international issues.  Paek will also visit Guangzhou 
to promote understanding of China's path of national 
development. 
 
A/S Hill to Visit Beijing 
------------------------- 
 
¶3.  Asked about the upcoming visit by EAP A/S 
Christopher Hill to Beijing May 24-25, Liu said that 
A/S Hill will meet with Asian Department VFM Wu Dawei 
to exchange views on the Six-Party Talks.  The Six- 
Party Talks are facing "severe difficulties," Liu said 
and China urges all Parties to take a flexible and 
pragmatic approach so the Talks can resume. 
 
China-Japan FM to Meet in Doha 
------------------------------ 
 
¶4.  PRC FM Li and Japan FM Aso are scheduled to hold a 
bilateral meeting on May 23 during the Asia 
Cooperation Dialogue in Doha, Liu said.  China and 
Japan will exchange in-depth views on international 
and bilateral relations.  Beijing hopes Japan will 
work to improve its relations with China.  Japanese 
leaders' visits to Yasukuni Shrine are the main crux 
of differences between the two sides and the issue 
"definitely" will be discussed.  The agenda for the 
meeting has been under discussion for weeks. 
 
U.S.-China Hi-Tech Trade 
------------------------ 
 
 
BEIJING 00009934  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶5.  Asked for comment on developments in U.S.-China 
trade relations, Liu said that the U.S. and China 
should adopt trade measures benefiting both sides to 
maintain trade momentum and discard the Cold War 
mentality limiting American hi-tech exports to China. 
 
Hamas Foreign Minister to Visit 
------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  Regarding reports that Hamas Foreign Minister 
Mahmoud Al-Zahar will visit China, Liu stated that the 
PRC invited all members of the China-Arab Forum, 
including the Palestinian Authority, to send 
representatives to Beijing in late May.  China values 
its relationship with Israel and does not think its 
bilateral relations will be undermined by the visit of 
the Hamas FM. 
 
Montenegro Referendum 
--------------------- 
 
¶7.  Asked about Beijing's view toward the independence 
referendum in Montenegro, Liu said that China respects 
the results of the referendum and believes the two 
sides can work out their difficulties through friendly 
consultation. 
 
China's Assistance to Iran 
-------------------------- 
 
¶8.  Asked about reports on China's assistance to 
Iran's nuclear program, Liu said that China was among 
several countries that aided Iran and that its aid was 
in accordance with IAEA and NPT guidelines.  Beijing 
will not accept "groundless accusations" regarding its 
peaceful nuclear assistance. 
 
Merkel in China 
--------------- 
 
¶9.  German Chancellor Angela Merkel exchanged views on 
human rights during her meetings with PRC leaders, Liu 
said in response to questions about the visit.  China 
wants to step up its human rights dialogue with 
Germany, as with other countries, on the basis of 
equality and mutual respect.  Regarding the EU arms 
embargo, Beijing hopes that Germany will play a 
constructive role addressing China's concerns during 
Germany's upcoming EU presidency. 
 
Annan in China 
-------------- 
 
¶10.  PRC leaders discussed North East Asia, UN reform 
and China-Japan relations with UN SYG Kofi Annan 
during his May 19-23 visit to China.  Liu said that 
SYG Annan is aware of China's position regarding Japan 
and the SYG hopes for an improvement in Sino-Japanese 
relations. 
RANDT