Cablegate: September 9 Mfa Press Briefing: Joint Committee On Commerce

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SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER 9 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: JOINT COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE
AND TRADE, RESUMPTION OF NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM, EXECUTION OF
PLA OFFICER

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1. Key points at the September 9 afternoon MFA press briefing were:

-- Vice Premier Wang Qishan will visit the United States next week
to discuss bilateral trade issues with U.S. officials as part of the
Sino-U.S. Joint Committee on Commerce and Trade (JCCT).

-- Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei is in contact with his Six-Party
Talks counterparts on the issue of North Korea's supposed resumption
of its nuclear program and the next steps for the Six-Party Talks
process. China urges all parties to show "flexibility," to "meet
each other half-way," to "make joint efforts" and to "implement the
remaining tasks of the Second Phase."

-- The Spokesman had "no information" regarding reports of the
recent execution of PLA Lieutenant Dai Yibiao.

Joint Committee on Commerce and Trade
-------------------------------------

2. At the September 9 regular MFA press briefing, spokesperson Jiang
Yu announced that Vice Premier Wang Qishan will visit the United
States next week to discuss bilateral trade issues with U.S.
officials as part of the Sino-U.S. Joint Committee on Commerce and
Trade. Jiang added that Wang will co-chair the meeting, taking
place in Los Angeles on September 17, with U.S. Trade Secretary
Carlos M. Gutierrez and U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab.

Resumption of North Korea's Nuclear Program
-------------------------------------------

3. Asked if China were concerned about the reported resumption of
North Korea's nuclear program, Jiang said that Vice Foreign Minister
Wu Dawei has been in contact with his Six-Party counterparts to
discuss this issue and the future direction of the Six-Party Talks.
She said that China believes that the progress reached so far has
"not come easily" and should be "cherished" by all parties. She
added that all parties should remain in contact, show "flexibility,"
"meet each other half-way," "make joint efforts" to ensure the
"proper solution" and "implement the remaining tasks of the Second
Phase." Only then, she added, will the parties be heading in the
"right direction."

North Korea's 60th anniversary
------------------------------

4. Jiang said China congratulates North Korea on its 60th
anniversary. When asked how China has benefited from having North
Korea as its neighbor for the past 60 years, Jiang said that China
and North Korea have been "good neighbors," that China deals with
all of its neighbors through the principle of "peaceful coexistence"
and that China hopes to maintain its relationship with North Korea
in the future. When asked by another reporter to confirm Kim
Jong-il's deteriorating health, she added that she had "not heard"
reports that he was sick.

Execution of PLA Lieutenant
---------------------------

5. When asked how a PLA officer, Lieutenant Dai Yibiao, could
legally be executed for spying for Taiwan, considered a part of
China, Jiang said she had "no information."

Chinese Consulate in Kolkata
----------------------------

6. In response to a question from an Indian journalist regarding
China's goals for its new Consulate in Kolkata, given the disputed
areas in Arunachal Pradesh, Jiang said that during Foreign Minister
Yang's recent trip to India, Yang had stressed that the new
Consulate would "bring more friendly exchanges" to the region and
that this type of bilateral exchange was welcome.

Pakistan's New President
------------------------

7. China extends its congratulations to Pakistan's new President
Asif Ali Zardari, said Jiang. She noted that China believes
Pakistan will continue to maintain social stability and economic
development under his leadership, and that theSino-Pakistani
strategic cooperative partnersip will continue to achieve new
heights.

Vsit of Ecuador's Vice President
--------------------------------

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8. China is pleased with the visit of Vice President of Ecuador
Lenin Moreno who led the Ecuadorian delegation to the Paralympics,
said Jiang. She added that China's policy is to carry out
cooperation with other countries in light of "equality and mutual
benefit" and that China hoped such cooperation was "beneficial to
both sides."

RANDT

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