VZCZCXRO5323
OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #3542 2550908
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 110908Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9904
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHSD/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0238

UNCLAS BEIJING 003542 
 
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y//ADD CARACAS// 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD PARM MNUC CH JA VE KN
 
SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER 11 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: KIM JUNG-IL, JOINT 
COMMISSION ON COMMERCE AND TRADE, WAR ON TERROR 
 
¶1.  Key points at the September 11 afternoon MFA press briefing 
were: 
 
-- China has received no reports from the DPRK on the health of Kim 
Jung-il. 
 
-- China hopes the upcoming Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade 
will help the United States and China solve their disputes through 
"equal dialogue and consultation." 
 
-- The UN should play the "dominant role" in strengthening global 
cooperation on counter-terrorism. 
 
-- China is "gravely concerned" about reports of alleged abuse of 
Chinese workers in Japan. 
 
-- China does not have any specific information about soon-to-expire 
reporting rules for foreign journalists but will continue to welcome 
foreign journalists to China. 
 
Kim Jung-il 
----------- 
¶2. At the September 11 regular MFA press briefing, spokesperson 
Jiang Yu said that China has not received any reports from the DPRK 
on the health of Kim Jung-il and told journalists to refer their 
questions to the government of the DPRK. 
 
Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) 
------------------------------------------- 
¶3.  Asked about Chinese participation in the upcoming 19th session 
of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, Jiang said 
that Vice Premier Wang Qishan will lead the delegation and will be 
joined by officials from the State Council, Ministry of Commerce, 
National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, 
State Food and Drug Administration, Export-Import Bank, among 
others.  Noting that the United States and China are each other's 
second largest trade partner, Jiang said that the JCCT is "mutually 
beneficial" and that China hopes the two countries will have an 
"equal dialogue" and solve their disputes through consultation. 
 
Global War on Terror 
-------------------- 
¶4.  Responding to a question about the seventh anniversary of 
September 11 and the U.S.-led war on terror, Jiang said that 
terrorism remains a challenge that poses a grave threat to the 
international community.  Noting the need to strengthen 
counter-terrorism cooperation, she stressed that the UN should play 
the "dominant role" in this effort.  Jiang also thanked other 
countries for their counter-terrorism cooperation with China during 
the Olympics. 
 
Chavez Visit to China 
--------------------- 
¶5.  Asked about Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's upcoming visit to 
China, Jiang said that China welcomes President Chavez's visit and 
that China will continue to pursue energy cooperation with 
Venezuela. 
 
Abuse of Chinese Workers in Japan 
--------------------------------- 
¶6.  Responding to a question about reports of alleged abuse of six 
female Chinese workers in Japan, Jiang expressed China's "grave 
concern" and called on Japanese authorities to immediately 
investigate the cases and to safeguard the rights of foreign workers 
in Japan. 
 
Reporting Rules for Foreign Journalists 
--------------------------------------- 
¶7.  Asked about the Olympic reporting rules for foreign journalists, 
which are due to expire on October 17, Jiang said that she had no 
additional information at this point.  However, she stressed that 
China will continue its policy of openness and will welcome 
journalists to come to China to report. She added that China hopes 
foreign journalists in China will abide by Chinese laws. 
 
RANDT