Wednesday afternoon in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing at the invitation of Zeng Jianhui, spokesman of the Fifth Session of the Ninth National People's Congress. The press conference lasted 65 minutes with some 600 reporters attending and he answered questions concerning Sino-US relations, Taiwan, and other issues.  




Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met a press conference Wednesday afternoon in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing at the invitation of Zeng Jianhui, spokesman of the Fifth Session of the Ninth National People's Congress. The press conference lasted 65 minutes with some 600 reporters attending and he answered questions concerning Sino-US relations, Taiwan, and other issues.


Peace, Development Remain Main Themes
Minister Tang said that the "September 11" terrorist attacks on the United States have not changed the basic pattern and development trends of the world.

He said that at present and in years to come, the general world situation will be peaceful but with local wars and conflicts, global relaxation with local tensions, and overall stability with regional disturbances.


China's Diplomatic Policy in 2002
Minister Tang said that in 2002 China will continue to play the role of a peaceful and responsible big country and make its postive contributions to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

The Chinese government will continue to pursue unswervingly the diplomatic policy of independence and peace, as well as firmly safeguard state sovereignty, territorial integrity and national dignity, he said at a press conference of the Fifth Session of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC).

He said that China made remarkable achievements in diplomatic affairs in 2001 and China has more opportunities than challenges.


SCO Benefits Regional Stability, All SCO Members Firm in Fighting Terrorism
The Foreign Minister said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is conducive to the regional peace, stability and economic cooperation and the world as a whole.

The regional organization, which include China, Russia and four Central Asian countries, is also conducive to the establishment of a just, fair and new international economic order.

The organization also serves the interest of world peace and stability and its further development will play an increasingly important role in advancing regional economic cooperation, he said.

Tang Jiaxuan said that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is the first international organization to put forward the idea of fighting terrorism.

All the six member countries of SCO are active participants in the international endeavor to fight terrorist activities, Tang said at the press conference.

Since its establishment in 2001, the SCO has all along been firm in the fight against international terrorism, separatism and religious extremism.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin will attend the second summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization slated for St. Petersburg, Russia, in June this year.


China, India Share More Common Grounds Than Differences
The Minister said that China and India share more common grounds than differences, and he is optimistic about the prospects of Sino-Indian relations.

Tang made the remark at the press conference of the current session of the National People's Congress (NPC) in replying to an Indian correspondent.

Tang confirmed that Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh, his "old friend," is going to visit China at the end of this month at his invitation.

Tang described Premier Zhu Rongji's visit to India in January this year as "very successful", and said it resulted in remarkable progress in Sino-Indian relations.

He said he hoped the upcoming visit to China by his Indian counterpart will help to bring Sino-Indian ties into a new phase of development.

China and India share many "common interests" on quite a number of major international issues, as well as in bilateral relations of trade and economic, scientific and technical cooperation.

According to the Chinese foreign minister, Chinese and Indian experts have made new progress on the border issue through talks and negotiations.


China Willing to Improve Ties with US, Taiwan Remains the Core Issue
The development of a constructive and co-operative relationship between China and the United States is of vital importance to world peace and security, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said.

He urged the United States to abide by its commitment to China on the Taiwan issue. Stressing that the Taiwan issue has always remained the most important and sensitive core issue in Sino-US relations, Tang said US president George W. Bush has reiterated during his recent visit to China that the US will stick to the "One China" policy and remain committed to the three Sino-US joint communiques on bilateral relations.

Tang Jiaxuan said that China has always opposed the "Taiwan Relations Act" of the United States, ever from the very beginning. The so-called "Taiwan Relations Act" is only a unilateral document of the United States.

China is willing to work together with the United States to further advance the constructive and cooperative ties between the two countries.

Tang told the press conference of the Fifth Session of the Ninth National People's Congress that the planned visits to the United States by Chinese president Jiang Zemin and vice-president Hu Jintao this year will offer an opportunity for further improving and developing Sino-US relations.

China is willing to work jointly with the United States to reduce differences, expand common ground, and promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation on the basis of the three Sino-US joint communiques, Tang said.


Mechanism to Close Economic Ties between HK and Mainland Launched
Foreign Minister Tang said China's entry into the World Trade Organization will lead mainland- Hong Kong economic cooperation to a higher level.

He said that discussion aiming to close the economic ties between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the mainland of China has already been launched.

Such a mechanism will bring mainland-Hong Kong economic cooperation to a higher level, Tang said this afternoon at the press conference held by the ongoing Fifth Session of the Ninth National People's Congress.

He said that China's entry to the World Trade Organization was a blessing for Hong Kong and Hong Kong will remain to be an international center for all kinds of activities.

Although there are some challenges and difficulties lying ahead for Hong Kong, Tang said that with the joint efforts of Hong Kong people, the sound leadership of Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa and the support from the mainland, the prosperity of Hong Kong can be achieved.


China's Interests in Exclusive Economic Zone Should Be Respected
Tang Jiaxuan said that China's interests in and jurisdiction over Chinese exclusive economic zone should be fully respected.

In December last year, a Japanese vessel chased an unidentified boat into the Chinese exclusive economic zone and sank the boat in the East China Sea. The Chinese government expressed strong opposition to the issue, Tang told the press conference in replying to a Japanese reporter's question on the issue.

Tang stressed that the Chinese side would fully safeguard interests in and jurisdiction over the Chinese exclusive economic zone in accordance with relevant laws.


Chinese FM on Constructive, Cooperative Relations with US
Tang said that China and the United States should seek common ground and shelve differences in building up the constructive and cooperative relations between the two countries.

To develop the constructive and cooperative relations, Tang said, the two countries should share common interests and views and reserve differences.

The two countries should treat each other sincerely, Tang told the press conference of the Fifth Session of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC).

During the meeting between Chinese President Jiang Zemin and US President George W. Bush in February, the two sides reached common understanding after exchanging views and carrying out consultations on the basis of mutual benefit and reciprocity, Tang said.


International Forums Improper for Cross-Strait Matters
The World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international occasions are not appropriate for the Chinese mainland and Taiwan to talk about what he described as matters of China's internal affairs, the Foreign Minister pointed out.

The mainland, as main body of China, and Taiwan, as a separate tariff zone of China, are now members of the world trade body, but issues between the Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, including those on economic cooperation, are China's internal matters, which should be worked out by the two sides under the "one China principle", said the foreign minister.

"There is no need to resort to any international forums, WTO included," he said at the press conference.


Pakistan, India Urged to Resolve Disputes by Peaceful, Political Means
China hopes Indian and Pakistan will continue their peaceful negotiations and strive to revolve the disputes between them, including the Kashmir issue, by peaceful and political means, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said.

China will continue to play a unique constructive role in this regard, Tang said at a press conference of the current session of the National People's Congress.

What the South Asian Subcontinent needs most is peace, stability and development, he said.

He stressed that both Pakistan and India are good neighbors of China, and developing China-India and China-Pakistan relations can run parallel without conflict.


US Urged to Contribute to Peace, Development in Asia
Tang Jiaxuan urged the United States to do more to promote peace, stability, development and prosperity in Asia.

Asked to comment on increasing U.S. military presence in Asia, Tang said a new concept of security has recently appeared in Asia, the core of which is seeking security through promotion of mutual trust and seeking development through promotion of cooperation.

Stressing that the new concept of security represents the direction of international relations, the Chinese foreign minister said he hopes that the US's Asian security policy will conform to the needs of Asian people and adapt to on-going changes in the region.


Chinese FM Expects Progress in Sino-US Arms Control Discussion
The Chinese Foreign Minister said that he hopes China and the United States would achieve progress in their discussion on arms control.

Tang told that a senior official with the Chinese Foreign Ministry is in Washington for a seminar on arms control and disarmament.

The Chinese official will also have in-depth consultation with officials from the US State Department not only on arms control but also on such issues as strategic stability throughout the world, Tang said.

The Chinese foreign minister expressed the hope that China and the United States would make progress in the discussions.