On the afternoon of June 9, 2011, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei held a regular press conference.

Hong Lei started the press conference with the following announcements:

At the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao, Mongolian Prime Minister Sukhbaatar Batbold will pay an official visit to China from June 15 to 17.

At the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart of Barbados will pay a working visit to China from June 12 to 17.

Q: First, What message did China send to French Finance Minister Lagarde during her visit to China? Does China support her assuming the position of IMF chief? Second, Mexican Central Bank Governor is said to visit China soon. Would you please give us more details? Third, Has Beijing sent an invitation to the Libyan "National Transitional Council" to visit China? If so, does it mean that China has changed its stance on the Libyan issue?

A: During French Finance Minister Lagarde's stay in China, Vice Premier Wang Qishan, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Finance Minister Xie Xuren and Governor Zhou Xiaochuan of the People's Bank of China met with her respectively. Lagarde briefed the Chinese side on her willingness to campaign for the position of IMF chief. The two sides also exchanged views on China-France relations, G20 Cannes Summit, the reform of international financial institutions as well as the reform of global economic rules and standards.

The selection of IMF management staff is part of governance restructuring of international financial institutions. Based upon consensus of G20 leaders, the selection of management staff of international financial institutions including the IMF should follow the principle of openness, transparency and merit, and the representativeness of emerging markets should be increased to reflect the changes in the world economic architecture. China noted that relevant countries have nominated some candidates for the IMF chief. We hope that parties will come to a decision through democratic consultation on the basis of the above principles.

Since the Libyan crisis broke out, China has followed closely the developments of the situation. The pressing task now is to cease fire as soon as possible so as to avert greater humanitarian disaster and resolve the Libyan crisis through dialogue, negotiation and other political means. China disapproves of any action overstepping the mandate of the UN Security Council Resolutions. We maintain that the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Libya as well as the Libyan people's independent choice should be respected. We hope all relevant parties give priority to the fundamental interests of the country and its people, bear in mind regional peace and stability and kick off the political process for the settlement of the Libyan crisis. Supporting the mediation schemes proposed and diplomatic endeavors made by the AU and others, China stands ready to keep in touch with all relevant parties in Libya to push for a political resolution of the Libyan issue together with the international community.

Q: Does China support Lagarde or does China come up with its own candidate?

A: As I have said, some candidates have been nominated for the IMF chief. China hopes that parties will come to a decision through democratic consultation on the basis of the above principles.

Q: Chinese diplomats reportedly invited Chairman Jalil of the Libyan "National Transitional Council" to visit China during their meeting in Benghazi. Would you please confirm and brief us more?

A: China is willing to keep in touch with all relevant parties in Libya and work along with the international community to push for a political resolution of the Libyan issue.

Q: Some believe that China's invitation to the Libyan rebels means China is inclined to support them, and the Gaddafi regime is going to fall. How do you comment on that?

A: China believes that the future of Libya shall be determined by the Libyan people themselves. China respects their independent choice.

Q: Is China's principled position in the Libyan issue also applicable to Yemen?

A: China follows closely the situation in Yemen and hopes that all relevant parties can resolve differences through dialogue so as to restore normal order and national stability at an early date.

Q: The Court of Final Appeal of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) ruled yesterday that it would seek interpretation from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on the FG Hemisphere Associates LLC v. the Democratic Republic of Congo case. What is the Foreign Ministry's comment? During the trial of the case, the Foreign Ministry sent several letters to the Court. Has it influenced the judgment of the case?

A: We have noted the ruling made by the Court of Final Appeal of the HKSAR, which seeks interpretation from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of four questions related to Article 13 and Article 19 of the Basic Law, in accordance with Paragraph 3, Article 158 of the Basic Law of the HKSAR. We welcome the ruling and believe that by doing so, the Court of Final Appeal of the HKSAR is fulfilling its obligations stipulated in the Basic Law, which is of positive significance to the comprehensive implementation of "one country, two systems" as well as the complete enforcement of the Basic Law.

During the trial of the case, the Foreign Ministry sent three letters to the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau of the HKSAR to explicate the Central Government's policy and position on state immunity and other major diplomatic issues. These letters were delivered by the Department of Justice of the HKSAR to the Court for its reference. This is a common judicial practice.

Q: What does China mean by resolving the Libyan crisis through "political means"?

A: China maintains that all relevant parties should cease fire as soon as possible to avert greater humanitarian disasters and resolve the Libyan crisis through dialogue, negotiation and other political means. China emphasizes that the future of Libya should be determined by the Libyan people themselves. China respects the independent choice of the Libyan people and believes that Libya's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity should be respected. We hope that all relevant parties in Libya will soon embark on a path that leads to a political resolution of the crisis.

Q: During Libyan Foreign Minister's visit to China, did the two sides touch upon the issue of Gaddafi's stepping down? The Libyan rebels rejected the AU's mediation scheme. Does China have any new proposals in mind?

A: All parties in Libya should give positive consideration to the mediation schemes and efforts of the AU and others. China believes that the future of Libya should be determined by the Libyan people themselves.

Q: It is reported that China has completed its first aircraft carrier. Where will the carrier be deployed? The Indian Ocean or the South China Sea?

A: Please refer to the competent authority for specifics.

What I want to point out is that China sticks to the path of peaceful development and a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. China upholds good neighborly and friendly relations. Over the years, China's military strength and the modernization level of the army have been relatively improved within the reasonable extent of self-defense. China's military weaponry and equipment still lags far behind that of the developed and relatively developed countries. China's defense strength will not pose threat to any country.

Q: It is reported that China and the DPRK have inaugurated their development cooperation in two economic zones. Please confirm. What expectation does China have towards the two economic zones?

A: China and the DPRK maintain normal economic cooperation and trade, with a view to strengthening bilateral business ties and promoting respective economic and social development. As for your specific question, the competent authority will release relevant information.

Q: The Japanese Defense Ministry said recently that a formation of Chinese naval vessels sailed through the waters off Okinawa. What is China's comment on the recent frequent activities of the Chinese navy in the offshore areas of Japan?

A: You must have noted relevant information released by China's Defense Ministry.

I want to point out that it is a normal training activity of the Chinese navy and not targeted to any specific country or object.

Q: First, China is considering providing more humanitarian assistance to Libya, but does not spell out to which side the assistance will go. Would you please give us more details? Second, would you please characterize the talks between the Chinese side and Lagarde. Is it constructive or tense?

A: On your first question, if the Libyan side raises relevant requirement, the competent authority of China will study into that.

On your second question, I have already told you what I have.

Q: How does China look at the security situation in Syria? What measures does China think should be adopted to ease the tensions in Syria?

A: Syria is a country of major impact in the Middle East. We hope that Syria will realize an early restoration of normal order and national stability and that all relevant parties bridge differences through political dialogue. The international community should play a constructive role in the process.

Q: Wi Sung-lac, the ROK's top negotiator to the Six-Party Talks has come to China. Would you please brief us on that?

A: Wu Dawei, the Chinese Government's special representative for the Korean Peninsula Affairs held talks with Wi Sung-lac, Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs of the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade today in Beijing. The two sides exchanged views on the Peninsula situation as well as the resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

Q: I have two questions about Google. First, the overseas edition of the People's Daily carried an article recently, saying that Google has been reduced to a political tool to vilify other countries. Does the Chinese Government share this view? Second, has China required Google to present concrete evidence to prove that the hacker attack was originated from China?

A: Google claimed that it was attacked by hackers from China. It could have by all means reported the case to China's public security authorities or resorted to relevant China-US law enforcement cooperation mechanism. However, Google chooses to play up the "incident" in this way. Doesn't it just indicate Google's ulterior motives?

Q: How does China look at the resumption of the Six-Party Talks?

A: China believes that dialogue and negotiation is the only way out for the Korean Peninsula issue. All relevant parties should keep in touch with each other, advance in parallel bilateral and multilateral dialogues, resume the Six-Party Talks, jointly safeguard peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and press ahead with the denuclearization process. We hope all parties make joint and positive efforts to that end for their own fundamental interests.

Q: Is China concerned about US Republican lawmaker's debt default proposal?

A: This is not a diplomatic issue. What I want to say is that we hope the US will adopt effective measures to improve the fiscal and financial situation of the US, safeguard the stability of the global financial market and promote a stable, sound development of the global economy.