Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying held a press conference on November 20, 2012.
Q: Please brief us on the upcoming second meeting of China-India Strategic Economic Dialogue.
A: As agreed by China and India, the second meeting of China-India Strategic Economic Dialogue will be held in New Delhi, India on November 26. As one of the important activities of the "Year of China-India Friendly Cooperation", the meeting will be co-chaired by Chairman Zhang Ping of China's National Development and Reform Commission and Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia of the Indian Planning Commission. Representatives from Chinese and Indian government departments, businesses, financial and research institutions will attend the meeting for dialogue and exchanges on strengthening economic cooperation in different forms and at different levels, promoting communication and coordination of macro-economic policies, and deepening and broadening mutually beneficial cooperation in investment, infrastructure, high technology, energy conservation, environmental protection and energy.
During Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India in December 2010, he reached consensus with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the establishment of the China-India Strategic Economic Dialogue mechanism, aiming at enhancing macro-economic policy coordination, promoting exchanges and interactions, and jointly tackling the problems and challenges in the economic development of both countries. The first meeting of China-India Strategic Economic Dialogue was held in Beijing on September 26, 2011.
Q: Russia accused the US of blocking the UN Security Council from adopting a resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. What is China's comment?
A: I stated China's principled position yesterday. China supports the efforts of Arab countries and the Arab League to ease the current tension, strongly urges all relevant parties, the Israeli side in particular, to exercise maximum restraint, achieve an immediate ceasefire and avoid any action that may lead to further escalation of tension. We support the international community, including the Security Council, in taking necessary actions to achieve ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and safeguard regional peace and stability.
Q: It is said that today the Chinese maritime surveillance fleet entered the 12-nautical-mile-zone of the Diaoyu Islands for patrol. Please confirm.
A: The Chinese maritime surveillance fleet carried out routine rights protection patrol in China's territorial waters off the Diaoyu Islands on November 20 .
Q: First, when will the next Meeting of the Special Representatives for the China-India Boundary Question be held? Second, please brief us on the meeting between Premier Wen Jiabao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the East Asian Leaders' Meetings.
A: On the first question, since 2003, China and India have carried out candid and pragmatic negotiations and made positive progress on resolving the boundary issue left over from history through the mechanism of Meeting of the Special Representatives for the Boundary Question. The two sides have reached agreement on the political parameters and guiding principles for resolving the boundary issue, which laid an important foundation for the final settlement of the issue. In January this year, State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Indian National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon held the 15th Meeting of the Special Representatives for the China-India Boundary Question in India. We will release information on the next meeting in due course.
On the second question, Premier Wen Jiabao met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Phnom Penh yesterday. Premier Wen said that it was of great significance for China and India, two neighboring nations with the largest population and ancient civilizations, to embark on the road to revitalization at the same time. During this process, the two countries have lived together in peace, strengthened cooperation, promoted bilateral relations, established strategic partnership of cooperation, determined the political parameters and guiding principles for resolving the boundary issue and maintained peace and tranquility in the border area. Bilateral trade has been growing rapidly, people-to-people exchanges are more active than ever and the two sides have jointly safeguarded common interests in major international and regional affairs. These important achievements have not only benefited the two peoples, but also promoted world peace and prosperity.
Premier Wen suggested that China and India should seize the strategic opportunities for development and expand mutually beneficial cooperation. First, make good use of the strategic economic dialogue mechanism and strengthen communication and coordination of macro-economic policies for better collaboration of each other's development strategy. Second, promote cooperation in the field of infrastructure. The Chinese government supports Chinese enterprises in participating in the construction of major projects in India. Third, create favorable policy and social environments for more mutual investment and facilitate investment by providing financial, information and legal services. Fourth, enhance the quality and level of cooperation and foster new growth points. Fifth, promote bilateral trade to gradually achieve balanced growth and open up markets to each other to ward off trade protectionism.
Prime Minister Singh offered congratulations on the successful conclusion of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. He said that India and China enjoyed a long history of friendship. Since the establishment of strategic partnership of cooperation, the two sides have improved dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, expanded areas of cooperation and conducted close communication and coordination in international and regional affairs, which effectively safeguarded the common interests of both countries and other developing nations. India was ready to work with China to push bilateral ties to a higher level.
Q: Please brief us on the meeting between Premier Wen Jiabao and President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the East Asian Leaders' Meetings.
A: Premier Wen Jiabao met with President Obama in Phnom Penh today. Premier Wen Jiabao said that China-US relations are among the most important bilateral relations in the world. Maintaining the sustained, sound and stable development of China-US relations serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples and contributes to Asia-Pacific and world peace, stability and prosperity. Premier Wen hoped that China and the US could send a positive message to the world that China and the US are committed to advancing cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit, jointly exploring a new type of relationship between major countries, cementing and strengthening cooperation mechanisms such as China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue, High-level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange, and Strategic and Security Dialogue, boosting China-US business cooperation to deal with difficulties and solve disputes through large-scale economic and financial cooperation, and enhancing exchanges and consultation on international and regional issues, particularly cooperation in the Asia Pacific.
President Obama said that US-China cooperation is essential to the security and prosperity of the Asia Pacific and the whole world, and the US is committed to working with China toward this end. As two of the largest economies of the world, the US and China undertake special responsibilities and play an important leading role for balanced and sustainable economic growth in Asia and beyond. It is extremely important for US and Chinese leaders to keep in contact and communication on global and regional issues facing both sides. The US hopes to continue to bolster US-China ties.
Q: ASEAN countries hope to start the consultation with China on the "Code of Conduct in the South China Sea" (COC) at an early date. What is China's comment?
A: China stays in unobstructed and effective communication with ASEAN countries on the formulation of the COC. Both sides agree to comprehensively and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), maintain the momentum of dialogue, actively create conditions and work towards finally reaching the COC based on consensus through consultation.