As agreed by China, India and Myanmar, commemorative activities of the 60th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence will be held in Beijing from June 28 to 29. President Xi Jinping will attend the commemoration on June 28. Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council will attend the commemorative reception on June 29.
President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Thein Sein and Vice President of the Republic of India Shri Mohammad Hamid Ansari will attend the above-mentioned commemorative activities.
At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Thein Sein will pay a state visit to China from June 27 to 30.
At the invitation of Vice President Li Yuanchao, Vice President of the Republic of India Shri Mohammad Hamid Ansari will pay an official visit to China from June 26 to 30.
Q: Please give us more details about commemorative activities of the 60th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and brief us on the visits by President U Thein Sein of Myanmar and Vice President Ansari of India.
A: In 1954, leaders from China, India and Myanmar jointly initiated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. In the following 60 years, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence withstood the vicissitudes in the international arena and has been embraced by more and more countries. It has become a basic norm guiding international relations and has played and continues to play an important role in safeguarding world peace and development.
After consultations, China, India and Myanmar have decided to jointly celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. On June 28, President U Thein Sein of Myanmar and Vice President Ansari of India will join President Xi Jinping for the commemoration and the banquet. On June 29, Premier Li Keqiang will accompany the two leaders for a reception and a photo exhibition. The joint attendance of leaders of the three countries at the commemorative activities reflects the determination our three countries have in adhering to and carrying forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and in realizing peaceful development. We will make positive contributions to promoting world peace and development. I am sure that with our concerted efforts, the commemorative activities will be a full success.
China attaches great importance to the visit by President U Thein Sein. President Xi Jinping will hold a welcome ceremony and talks with him. Premier Li Keqiang, NPC Chairman Zhang Dejiang and other Chinese leaders will also meet with him on separate occasions. Besides, President U Thein Sein will visit Luoyang of Henan Province.
China and Myanmar are traditional good neighbors. The two peoples enjoy "paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship. Over a long period of time, China and Myanmar have been developing a good-neighborly and friendly relationship on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which has born fruitful results This visit will be President U Thein Sein's third state visit to China during his presidency. It is of great significance to promote the sound and stable development of China-Myanmar relations under the new circumstances. China remains committed to the policy of friendship towards Myanmar and hopes that through this visit, China-Myanmar good-neighborliness and friendship can be consolidated, strategic mutual trust enhanced, practical cooperation deepened and the comprehensive strategic partnership for cooperation between China and Myanmar further enriched and developed.
China attaches great importance to the visit by Vice President Ansari. This will be the first visit by an Indian leader since the new Indian government was formed in May. It is of vital importance to the sound and steady development of bilateral ties under the new circumstances. During the visit, President Xi Jinping and other leaders will meet with Vice President Ansari. Vice President Li Yuanchao will hold a welcome ceremony and talks with him. Besides, Vice President Ansari will give a speech at an academic institution and pay a visit to Xi'an.
China and India are the world's two largest developing countries and important emerging economies. In recent years, the strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity between China and India has made sound and steady progress. Our political mutual trust has been deepened. Cooperation in various fields has achieved a lot. We have maintained good coordination and collaboration on regional and international affairs. Since the new Indian government was formed, both sides have conducted close high-level exchanges. Both agreed that we need to strengthen practical cooperation and further promote China-India strategic and cooperative partnership. China stands ready to work with India to forge a closer partnership for development and to realize common development.
Q: China's Maritime Security Administration announced the other day that another four drilling platforms of China will start their operations in relevant waters of the South China Sea. I wonder if China tries to convey some message by taking this move.
A: China's Maritime Security Administration has made it clear in its announcements that the drilling platforms are operating completely within the coastal waters off China's Guangdong Province and Hainan Province. So these are just normal activities. There is no need to read too much into them or make particular links.
Q: Several years ago, Myanmar's government announced to suspend the Myitsone power station project. Will President U Thein Sein bring this project up during his visit to China? Does China hope that Myanmar will resume relevant project?
A: At present, I have no information to offer on whether President U Thein Sein will talk about this project during his visit to China. But I want to be clear that China follows the principle of mutual benefit and win-win for all when carrying out major project cooperation with foreign countries. We require Chinese enterprises to observe local laws and regulations and fulfill their social responsibilities. Meanwhile, relevant countries should ensure the lawful rights and interests of Chinese enterprises working there. Relevant departments and enterprises from both sides are in communication on the Myitsone power station project to find a solution.
Q: First, can you be more specific on the current location and the final destination of Number 9 South China Sea drilling platform? Will it enter waters of dispute between China and Vietnam? Does China think this move will invite protests from the Vietnamese side? Second, the Philippines and the US will hold a joint naval exercise. What is China's response to that?
A: Relevant drilling platforms, including Number 9 South China Sea drilling platform, are operating within the coastal waters off China's Guangdong Province and Hainan Province. China's Maritime Security Administration has made public these platforms' coordinates. You can locate these coordinates on a map. China is working in its own yard. If someone read too much into it or give wild interpretations, then they are deliberately stirring things up.
On your second question, we hope relevant countries can do more things that are conducive to promoting national security and mutual trust, and safeguarding regional peace and stability.
Q: Japan will soon release results of its review of the "Kono Statement". What is China's response to that?
A: The forced recruitment of "comfort women" is a serious crime against humanity committed by the Japanese militarism during the Second World War on people of Asia and other victimized countries. The evidence for their crimes is iron-clad. Any attempt to overturn the verdict on Japan's history of invasion will be spurned by the public. We urge the Japanese side to honestly face up to and reflect upon its history of aggression, honor its statements and commitments made to the international community, including the "Kono Statement" with a responsible attitude, and properly handle issues left over from history, including the "comfort women" issue with concrete actions.
