China to seek political solution on Iraq - Tang
( 2003-03-06 15:15 ) (8 )

China will continue to hold to its position of finding a political solution to the issue of Iraq within the framework of UN Resolution 1441 and there is no need for a new UN resolution, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said Thursday at a news conference in Beijing.

As a permanent UN Security Council member, Tang said, China will continue to try its best to seek a political solution on Iraq.

Tang said that the issue of Iraq is at a critical juncture of military action and a political solution. "China's position on this issue is known to all, we hope that a political solution can be found within the framework of UN Resolution 1441."

He said that the tasks defined in UN Resolution 1441 have not been fully accomplished, especially the tasks of weapons inspection and efforts should be continued to strengthen weapons inspection, seek a political solution and avert a war. As a result, China holds that it is not necessary to put aside Resolution 1441 and introduce a new one.

Tang said that every effort has to be made to avert a war on Iraq, as war is not in the interests of the people in the world. One can find the best proof to this as more and more people worldwide are voicing their opinions against war.

The foreign minister said that China's stance on the Iraq issue is consistent with that of France, Germany and Russia. China endorses and supports the contents of the joint declaration issued by the three countries Wednesday, Tang said.

But China has no secret deal with the three countries. China often exchanges views with the three countries, Tang said.

Tang said that he would leave for New York to attend conference of the UN Security Council on Iraqi Issue. "This is my third visit to the UN within a month on the same issue," he said.

It's still a bit too early to talk about whether China would use its power of veto in the UN Security Council on the Iraq issue. There is still possibility to resolve the issue politically, Tang said.

China will take its own decision in accordance with its independent foreign policy of peace, he added.

China urges direct DPRK-US dialogue

The foreign minister said that the resolution of the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) hinges on the direct dialogue between the DPRK and the United States.

China has noticed that the DPRK has said it had no intention to develop nuclear weapons and may accept inspection through bilateral channels with the United States, the foreign minister said.

"China has made a lot of efforts to promote the peaceful talks" between the two sides, Tang said.

He said China's basic stance on the DPRK nuclear issue is that the Korean Peninsula should be denuclearized and peace and stability on the peninsula be maintained, underlining that the most effective means to resolve the issue is to realize the direct dialogue between the DPRK and the United States.

The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is conducive to the DPRK and the countries concerned, Tang said.

The deadlock between the DPRK and the US, he added, stems from the lack of trust between the two sides.

China is in opposition to exerting pressures or imposing sanctions against the DPRK owing to the nuclear issue, because such actions would make the situation on the peninsula even more complicated and not helpful to the resolving of the DPRK nuclear issue, he said.

Meanwhile, he said China would adopt positive and open attitude towards whatever means beneficial to peace and stability of the Korean peninsula and the peaceful resolving of the DPRK nuclear issue.

He went on to note what attitude the DPRK and the United States adopt determines how the DPRK nuclear issue would be resolved.

China has always done its best to the resolving of the issue, which has been proven effective, the foreign minister said.

On Sino-Japanese relations

Japan should learn lessons from history and abide by the three basic documents on Sino-Japanese relations, said China's Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan Thursday, at a press conference of the First Session of the Tenth National People's Congress (NPC).

Necessary conditions have to be created for future high-level exchanges between the two nations, the foreign minister said, in response to a question raised by a Japanese reporter from the NHK.

The three documents Tang mentioned refer to the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China and Japan, the Sino-Japan Joint Declaration, and the Sino-Japan Statement.

The bilateral ties between the two countries have run into difficulties due to official visits of Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in recent years.

On China's foreign policy

Tang said that China will unswervingly adhere to the independent foreign policy of peace. The mission of China's diplomatic work is to "safeguard world peace and promote common development," Tang said.

He pointed out that China will continue to develop normal relations with foreign countries on the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence. China's foreign policy features continuity and stability and will remain unchanged despite the upcoming State and government leadership changes.

Talking about the the impact of oil resources on China's foreign policy, Tang said that the impact will not be large enough to affect China's foreign policy. Oil and natural gas are strategic resources for China and the country imports a large quantity of oil every year. But China has long ago made preparations to diversify its importation channels, said Tang.

On Sino-African relations

The foreign minister said that China attaches great importance to its relations with African countries and other developing countries, and would provide assistance for them to the best of its capacity in a sincere way.

On Sino-US relations

Tang said that the key to the development of Sino-US relations is that the three China-US joint communiques are respected, and that the United States properly handles the Taiwan issue and adheres to the one-China principle.

On HK legislation

Tang said that the legislation related to Article 23 of the Hong Kong SAR Basic Law is an internal affair of China and of the Special Administrative Region, and no foreign country should make irresponsible remarks on this issue.

It's international common practice to make laws to prohibit criminal activities that endanger national security and unity, said Tang, adding that the Hong Kong SAR is fully entitled to make laws of its own according to the HKSAR Basic Law.

On Pakistan's efforts in war on terrorism

Tang said that Pakistan has made a great deal of positive efforts in the international war on terrorism.

Tang also spoke highly of the long-term and traditional friendship between China and Pakistan, describing it as "an all-weather relationship."

The cooperation between China and Pakistan is beneficial to peace, stability and development in South Asia, Tang said.