VZCZCXRO0088
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #7634 3610956
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 270956Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4236
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BEIJING 007634 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM CH KS KN RS JA IN
SUBJECT: DECEMBER 27 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: PM FUKUDA VISIT, EAST CHINA 
SEA, SIX-PARTY TALKS, CHINA-INDIA CT COOPERATION, CHINA'S DIPLOMACY 
IN 2007 
 
¶1. Key points at the December 27 MFA Press Briefing: 
 
-- China extends a warm welcome to FM Fukuda, scheduled to arrive in 
China December 27. 
 
-- The spokesman said that the majority of DPRK nuclear disablement 
will be completed by the end of the year and that China hopes all 
sides will follow the principle of action-for-action and will take 
comprehensive and balanced efforts in the second phase. 
 
-- The East China Sea issue should be addressed in high level 
consultations and the Chinese side hopes that the Japanese 
Government will meet them "halfway." 
 
-- China-India joint counterterrorism exercises are focusing on 
combating "non-traditional security factors." 
 
-- The spokesman, noting FM Yang's comments in the December 24 
edition of the People's Daily (Renmin Ribao) reviewing China's 
diplomatic work over the past year, said China's 2007 diplomacy has 
played a constructive role and has promoted "world peace and 
stability" and "China's national interests." 
 
PM Fukuda's Visit 
----------------- 
 
¶2. At the December 27, 2007 regular MFA press briefing, spokesman 
Qin Gang extended China's warm welcome to Japanese Prime Minister 
Yasuo Fukuda who was to arrive in China later that afternoon.  Qin 
said that the Chinese side attaches great importance to the visit 
and hopes to exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of 
common interest to keep up the momentum of improving bilateral ties. 
 
 
¶3. Qin also confirmed that the Chinese side plans to discuss the 
Six-Party Talks and DPRK nuclear disablement with Fukuda.  The talks 
will be aimed at strengthening cooperation on the issue.  Qin said 
that the Chinese side hopes that the Six-Party process will help 
lead to normalization of relations between "some countries."  China 
hopes that all parties will follow the principle of 
action-for-action. 
 
East hina Sea: Need for High Level Consultations 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶4. The spokeman admitted that Japan and Cina have some differences 
on the issue of theEast China Sea but said that the leaders of the 
two countries hope to solve the issue at an early date.  Qin said 
that the two sides agreed that the issue should be addressed in high 
level consultations and that the Chinese side hopes that the 
Japanese Government will meet them "halfway."  When asked about the 
possibility of the two sides signing a document on the East China 
Sea, Qin replied that it was too early to announce whether any 
documents would be signed during the visit. 
 
Six-Party Talks: Majority of Disablement by Year's End 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶5. Qin said that the Six-Party talks are making constant progress 
and that the Yongbyon nuclear facility has been shut down, when 
asked about China's position on the Six-Party Talks and whether the 
U.S. demands were too high.  Qin said that the majority of 
disablement will be completed by the end of the year and that China 
hopes that all sides will follow the principle of action-for-action 
and will take comprehensive and balanced efforts in the second 
phase.  Qin said that the Joint Statement was very clear that the 
material should be both secured and stored in line with 
international practice. 
 
China-India Joint Counterterrorism Exercises 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. China and India conducted joint counterterrorism exercises this 
month for the purpose of building trust and security cooperation 
"especially in terms of combating non-traditional security factors," 
Qin told reporters.  The two countries are important neighbors in 
Asia and China welcomes India's suggestions for improvement in the 
hope of institutionalizing such activities, he added. 
 
FM Yang in RMRB Describes China's Diplomacy in 2007 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶7. Noting FM Yang's interview in the December 24 edition of the 
People's Daily (Renmin Ribao), Qin stated China's diplomatic work 
has played a constructive role in 2007 and has promoted "world peace 
and stability" and "China's national interests," stated Qin. 
RANDT