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RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW IMMEDIATE 8893
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 1737
RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI IMMEDIATE 3696
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 007537 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV JA KN KS RS BL VM
SUBJECT: DECEMBER 13 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SIX-PARTY TALKS, 
SOUTH CHINA SEA PROTESTS, JAPANESE PM VISIT, BALI 
CONFERENCE, PUTIN 
 
 
¶1. Key points at the regular December 18 MFA press briefing: 
 
-- VFM Wu Dawei is currently in Pyongyang to discuss the next 
phase of the Six Party Talks. 
 
-- Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda has expressed his 
willingness to visit China, but the two sides have not yet 
decided a date for the visit. 
 
-- Protests in Vietnam over the South China Sea have hurt 
Sino-Vietnamese friendship and China hopes that Vietnam will 
take steps to ensure protests do not happen again. 
 
-- China congratulates the Bali Conference on Climate Change 
on its success and hopes the developed nations lead the way 
forward on reducing greenhouse gasses. 
 
-- Rumors that China will sell ten fighter aircraft to Iran 
are untrue. 
 
-- Vladimir Putin has made great contributions to expanding 
mutual trust and cooperation between China and Russia and 
China hopes such cooperation can continue. 
 
-- Visits: Bolivian Foreign Minister David CHOQUEHUANCA 
Cespedes will visit China December 20-24, at the invitation 
of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. 
 
Six Party Talks Update 
---------------------- 
 
¶2. At the December 18 regular MFA press briefing, spokesman 
Qin Gang confirmed that VFM Wu Dawei is currently in 
Pyongyang to discuss the next phase of work for the Six Party 
Talks.  Qin expressed optimism about the progress so far.  He 
noted the consensus reached on goals and said China hopes all 
parties work together to increase mutual trust and 
cooperation to implement Six Party Talks agreements 
comprehensively. 
 
Japanese Prime Minister Visit 
----------------------------- 
 
¶3. Asked about press reports that Japanese Prime Minister 
Fukuda will visit China December 27-30, Qin replied that 
Fukuda has expressed his willingness to visit either in late 
2007 or early 2008.  Once the two sides agree on a date, they 
will announce it. 
 
Protests in Vietnam 
------------------- 
 
¶4. Protests in Vietnam regarding the South China Sea have 
damaged the Chinese-Vietnamese friendship, and China hopes 
Vietnam will take appropriate measures to improve 
Sino-Vietnamese relations and prevent future demonstrations. 
Qin said China hopes to solve the issue via peaceful 
consultations, and noted all parties have the responsibility 
to safeguard regional security. 
 
New Local Government for Disputed Islands 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. Asked about the recent establishment of the county-level 
city of Sansha, a part of Hainan province, to administer the 
disputed Xisha and Nansha islands, Qin responded that the 
area involved are indisputably under Chinese sovereignty and 
establishing local governmental arranements is a normal 
activity for sovereign overnments to undertake. 
 
Malnutrition in Tibet 
--------------------- 
 
¶6. Asked about a recent University of California report that 
60 percent of children in Tibet are malnourished and that 
Tibet's infant mortality rate is considerably higher than 
elsewhere in China, Qin responded that he has for the past 
three press conferences addressed the Dalai Lama's lies and 
did not wish to continue addressing them.  He added that 
"serfdom in Tibet died long ago." 
 
The Bali Climate Change Discussion 
---------------------------------- 
 
 
BEIJING 00007537  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶7. China congratulates the participants in the Bali 
discussions on climate change on the success of the meeting, 
which concluded with consensus on the direction for future 
negotiations.  China hopes developing nations take the lead 
in reducing greenhouse gasses and help developing nations 
through increased technological assistance. 
 
Japanese Missile Tests 
---------------------- 
 
¶8. Asked about recent Japanese tests of a ballistic missile 
defense system, Qin responded that Japan has always stated 
its desire for peaceful development.  China hopes that 
Japan's actions will be conducive to peace, security and 
mutual trust in the region.  He said China has a policy of 
benevolence toward its neighbors and hopes countries in the 
region can work together for peace, security and development. 
 He also said China opposes any other nation's interference 
in the Taiwan issue. 
 
Sale of "Fighters" to Iran 
-------------------------- 
 
¶9. Asked about reports that China will sell Iran ten fighter 
aircraft, Qin responded emphatically that he had already 
responded to the question on October 25, and that the reports 
are groundless and incorrect.  China is responsible and 
prudent in the area of nonproliferation, in accord with 
relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. 
 
Putin's Contributions to Sino-Russian Relations 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶10. Asked about the possibility that Vladimir Putin will 
become Russia's next Prime Minister, Qin noted that under 
Putin's lead, the Sino-Russian partnership has been greatly 
strengthened, with mutual trust reaching an unprecedented 
high.  China values the contributions of Putin to these 
developments. 
 
Visits: Bolivian Foreign Minister 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶11. Bolivian Foreign Minister David CHOQUEHUANCA Cespedes 
will visit China December 20-24, at the invitation of Chinese 
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. 
 
RANDT