On the afternoon of February 24, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kong Quan held a regular press conference.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentleman. I'd like to begin with two announcements.

At the invitation of the Government of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Minister of Communications Zhang Chunxian, as the Special Envoy of the Chinese Government, will attend the handover ceremony of the presidency of Uruguay in Montevideo on March 1.

At the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Zhaoxing, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Sergei Nikolaevich Martynov will pay an official visit to China from March 2 to 5.

Now, I am ready to take up your questions.

Q: It's reported that the US is planning to sell India the Patriot anti-missile system. What's China's comment? Will China continue to support the peaceful solution of the disputes between India and Pakistan through dialogue? Does China believe that the US arms sale to India will cause a fresh round of arms race in South Asia?

A: China is glad to see the positive momentum toward proper solution of the disputes between India and Pakistan through dialogue. These two South Asian countries are both our friendly neighbors. We expect to make concerted efforts with them to maintain peace, and stability in South Asia, and commit ourselves to development.

We have taken note of the report on the sale of anti-missile system. We hope relevant countries can act in the interests of the peace and stability in Asia and South Asia in particular.

We don't think a nuclear arms race in South Asia conforms to the interests of any side. Therefore, we hope the South Asian countries involved can continue to solve various disputes through dialogue and negotiation, and make joint commitment to the regional peace, stability and development.

Q: The US and Japan recently modified the Japan-US Security Treaty, touching upon the Taiwan question. What's your comment?

A: You didn't attend the two previous press conferences. I advise you to come, because we have important positions and message to convey every time.

At the two previous press conferences, I repeatedly expressed our stand on this question. The bilateral arrangement between the US and Japan should not include contents beyond the bilateral category. The Taiwan question mentioned this time touched upon the core interests of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, to which we are strongly opposed.

Q: Yesterday Ning Fukui, Ambassador Ning Fukui in charge of the Peninsula Affairs respectively met with the Japanese and ROK ambassadors. Please tell us some details about their meetings.

A: Over these days, China is staying close contact with the other five parties of the Six-Party Talks. The night before last, Minister Li Zhaoxing talked through telephone with the US Secretary of State Rice who accompanied President Bush to visit Europe. When meeting with Russian Ambassador to China Igor Rogachev the day before last, and Japanese, the ROK and the US ambassadors yesterday, Ambassador Ning Fukui discussed with them the latest development of the situation on the Peninsula. During these meetings and talks, China expressed its hope that all parties stick to the goal of a nuclear-free Peninsula, make concerted commitment to the peace and stability on the Peninsula, and contribute to the resumption of the Six-Party Talks. Every party has its own responsibility. We hope all parties make concerted efforts for that goal.

Q: During the Minister Wang Jiarui's visit to the DPRK, did the DPRK mention the abduction of Japanese?

A: During his visit to the DPRK, he talked about the further development of relations between the two parties of China and the DPRK, and the situation on the Peninsula, especially questions about the Six-Party Talks. I have no information on other details.

Q: Please offer us the details of the phone talk between Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and US Secretary of State Rice. The ROK Foreign and Trade Minister said the ROK, Japan and the US will hold talks in Seoul on the nuclear issue on the Peninsula. What's China's position? Will China attend the talks?

A: The talk between Minister Li Zhaoxing and US Secretary of State Rice focused on the latest development of the nuclear issue on the Peninsula. Li specially emphasized that the parties concerned should continue to make joint efforts to realize a nuclear-free Peninsula. Minister Li Zhaoxing and US Secretary of State Rice reached a consensus that the next round of the Six-Party Talks should be held as early as possible.

As to the meeting among the ROK, Japan and the US, we hope other parties can cooperate with China, and undertake their own responsibilities so as to create conditions for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

Q: Can you confirm whether China will attend the G8 summit meeting to be held in Scotland this July? The Vanuatu Prime Minister is visiting China. What is his itinerary? Who is he going to meet with? And what results are expected?

A: The G8 has officially invited China to attend the summit meeting that will be held in Britain, I have introduced to you that China pays great importance to the important role of G8 in the international affairs, and is willing to hold talks and communications with them in various forms. For example, China's officials of Ministry of Finance and People's Bank of China held talks with their counterparts of G7. Last year the deputy minister of finance and vice president of the central bank attended the talks. And this year, the talks were held between the Chinese Financial Minister and President of People's Bank of China and their G7counterparts. In such a context, we are studying carefully the suggestion put forward by the British side. If I have further information, I will inform you on time.

Vanuatu Prime Minister Lini started to visit China today. The visit will last to March 4th. According to my knowledge, President of People's Republic of China Hu Jintao and Premier of State Council Wen Jiabao will meet and talk with him. Governments of the two countries will sign a joint statement and some agreements on economic and technological cooperation. Prime Minister Lini also has opportunities to meet other officials of departments of Chinese Government, and exchange views on specific issues on bilateral relations. He will visit Henan and Hainan after leaving Beijing.

Follow-up: Will the Taiwan question be discussed?

A: Before his visit to China, Prime Minister Lini has reiterated that Vanuatu Government firmly pursues the one China policy.

Q: According to the latest news yesterday, the United States is willing to unconditionally restart the Six-Party Talks with the DPRK. Do you think it is good news, and is China optimistic to the news?

A: I have said many times that the Six-Party Talks is a complex and winding process. Under the present situation, we need all parties to take their own responsibility, show sincerity and flexibility and make efforts to resume the Six-Party Talks.

Q: When the DPRK delivered the 2.10 announcement about two weeks ago, the Chinese side said that it needed time to make further analysis on this issue. Have China come to some conclusion now? Does the current situation mean China has failed in its efforts to resume the Six-Party Talks? And what is your comment on the United States' former president Clinton's meeting with Chen Shuibian?

A: As to the DPRK's 2.10 declaration, we don't think they have closed the door to the Six-Party Talks. During Minister Wang Jiarui's visit, The DPRK's leaders explicitly explained that they never opposed the Six-Party Talks, let alone withdraw from it. Therefore it needs every party concerned to show their sincerity and flexibility, make joint efforts for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks. As to whether the current difficulty means the failure of China's consistent effort, of course I don't think so. As you can recall, during the past two-odd years, the resolution of the nuclear issue on the Peninsula has started from the acute confrontation and then turned to the three-party talks and later six-party talks. Through three rounds of Six-Party Talks, all the parties have accumulated common understanding and defined the problems to be resolved. All parties had exchanged in-depth views on what measures must be adopted and what process must be undergone. Those results didn't come easily, therefore we should cherish them more. We should make joint efforts to stick to the Six-Party Talks mechanism, striving for a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue on Korean Peninsular through diplomatic means. Maintaining the stability on the Korean peninsula is not only beneficial to the regional concerned sides, but also beneficial to the world peace and stability.

As to your second question, as former President and important political figure of the U.S., Mr. Clinton should know China's stern stance on Taiwan question, and he should also know how to conduct in conformity to a number of commitments that all previous U.S. administrations, including his own, have made to China, in which the U.S. promised to pursue one China policy, abide by the three China-US joint communiqué and oppose to 'Taiwan Independence'.

Q: In the forthcoming meetings of NPC and CPPCC, the 'anti-secession law' is a quite conspicuous topic. Recently, some people in the U.S. and Japan have publicly called on China to suspend formulating this law. What's your comment on this?

A: We have expressed our stance many times about the anti-secession law. Its formulation is only to maintain peace and stability in Taiwan Straits. It's totally unreasonable for some people in other countries to make irresponsible remarks on it. I suggest you attend the press meeting to be held by Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, and raise your questions on relations across the Taiwan Straits to your interest.

Q: Will China attend the G8 summit meeting?

A: I'd like to provide you with background information. During the G8 summit meeting in France the year before last year, some dialogue sessions were held among the leaders of G8 and some developing countries. This year, Britain proposed China and some other countries can attend the dialogue sessions with the eight countries. China holds a positive attitude to the communication on some international issues with G8 through dialogues. We have received the invitation, and we are taking a careful consideration on it.

If no other questions are to be raised, thanks for your coming.