VZCZCXRO5073
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #4539/01 3481302
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 141302Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3021
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 024539 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL CH
SUBJECT: DECEMBER 14 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SIX-PARTY  TALKS, 
RENMINBI HIGH VS DOLLAR, GAO ZHISHENG, TIBETAN  REFUGEES, 
CHINA-AFRICA COOPERATION, DARFUR POLICY,  CLOONEY, BUSH, 
NAZARBAEV, KHATIB 
 
 
¶1. Key Points at the December 14 MFA Press Conference 
were: 
 
-- China believes patience, compromise and mutual 
trust building are required during the Six-Party 
Talks. 
 
-- Human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng's trial will take 
place in accordance with Chinese law. 
 
-- China rejects criticism that its Africa policy is 
neo-colonialism.  In these new times, nothing can hold 
back China-Africa cooperation. 
 
-- Beijing briefs U.S. actor George Clooney on Darfur. 
 
-- Former President Bush visits Beijing and meets with 
President Hu. 
 
-- Kazakhstan President Nazarbaev will meet with 
President Hu, Chairman Wu and Premier Wen during his 
upcoming visit to China.  Over ten agreements will be 
signed. 
 
China Seeks Mutual Trust in Six-Party Talks 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. MFA Spokesperson Qin Gang announced at the December 
14 press briefing that, during the Six-Party Talks, 
time, patience, compromise and the building of mutual 
trust between all countries will be required.  Asked 
for details on the schedule and structure of the 
talks, Qin said there would be both bilateral and 
multilateral meetings and that the talks would likely 
begin Monday morning. 
 
No Further Information on Gao Zhisheng, Slain Tibetan 
Refugees 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶3. Qin stated that the case of human rights lawyer Gao 
Zhisheng will be decided in accordance with Chinese 
law, when asked by an Associated Press reporter about 
concerns that Gao received a closed-door trial without 
legal representation.  Responding to the reporter's 
second question as to what measures had been taken to 
address the September 30 shooting of two Tibetans by 
Chinese border guards, Qin said that the victims were 
illegal border-crossers and that there was no more to 
add. 
 
Sensitivity to Criticism on China-Africa Cooperation 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶4. Qin said he "does not understand the mentality and 
motives" of countries who continue to criticize 
China's relationship with African nations in a several 
minutes long response to a question regarding South 
African President Thabo Mbeki's remarks that China 
risks entering into a colonial relationship with 
Africa if it continues to extract natural resources 
without developing Africa's manufacturing capacity. 
Qin spoke about common experiences and suffering under 
colonialism between the people of China and Africa as 
well as of prior support for China-Africa cooperation 
from President Mbeki himself.  Times have changed and 
no force can hold back the trend of cooperation 
between China and Africa, Qin said, adding that any 
words that undermine this relationship are also not 
welcome to the African people. 
 
Clooney in Beijing: Briefed on PRC Darfur Policy 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶5. Responding to reports, Qin acknowledged that U.S. 
actor George Clooney visited Beijing December 10-12 to 
discuss Darfur.  He met high-level officials at the 
MFA who briefed on China's policy in the region. 
China is concerned about the Darfur issue, Qin said, 
and actively provides humanitarian assistance to the 
region.  China hopes through dialogue to increase 
mutual trust and promote an early resolution of the 
issue. 
 
China Thanks Annan and Wishes Him Well 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. When asked to comment on the legacy of Kofi Annan, 
Qin said that as the UN Secretary General for the last 
10 years, Annan has promoted world peace and 
 
BEIJING 00024539  002 OF 002 
 
 
development.  He is a great friend of China and China 
thanks him for his dedication to public service and 
wishes him well in his future endeavors. 
 
Renminbi Hits New High Against U.S. Dollar 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶7. When asked to comment on the new high reached by 
the Chinese Renminbi against the U.S. Dollar, Qin's 
only response was to say that China's position on this 
has been consistent. 
 
Former President Bush Visiting Beijing 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. Former President Bush is visiting Beijing from 
December 12-14.  He met with President Hu on December 
13 and has attended various social sciences, 
humanitarian and cultural events. 
 
Kazakhstan President Nazarbaev to Visit China 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶9. In reply to a request for details concerning 
Kazakhstan President Nazarbaev's upcoming visit to 
China, Qin said President Nazarbaev will hold meetings 
with President Hu, National People's Congress Standing 
Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao 
to discuss bilateral relations and regional and 
international issues of common concern.  At least ten 
agreements will be signed during the visit, Qin said, 
offering no additional details. 
 
Jordanian FM Ilah Khatib to Visit China 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶10. At the invitation of FM Li Zhaoxing, Jordanian FM 
Abdul Ilah Khatib will pay a working visit to China 
December 18-19. 
 
Randt