As agreed by China and the EU and at the invitation of Prime Minister Charles Michel of the Kingdom of Belgium, Prime Minister Manuel Valls of the Republic of France and Secretary-General Angel Gurría of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council will attend the 17th China-EU Summit in Brussels and visit Belgium, pay an official visit to France, and visit the headquarters of the OECD from June 28 to July 2.
At the invitation of the Nepalese government, Foreign Minister Wang Yi will lead a delegation on behalf of the Chinese government to attend the International Conference on Nepal's Reconstruction in Kathmandu from June 24 to 25. This conference is held by the Nepalese government, and representatives of over 50 countries and international organizations are invited to attend the event. On the sidelines of the conference, Minister Wang Yi will meet with the Nepalese leaders and delegates from relevant countries.
Post-disaster reconstruction in Nepal is a long-term and massive project. The Chinese side stands ready to provide all assistance Nepal needs within our ability and work with the international community to help the Nepalese people rebuild their homes as soon as possible.
Q: Recently, US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel said at a preview of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue that the US side urges China to cease reclamation, to not construct further facilities in the South China Sea. He said that the issue of the South China Sea is not fundamentally an issue between the US and China, and there is an unwavering determination on the part of the US to avoid military confrontation, including with China. He also said that as new problems and new challenges keep emerging in today's world, cooperation between China and the US and collaborative solutions are required. What's China's comment on that?
A: China has clearly stated its position on the construction activities on the islands and reefs of Nansha many times. Relevant construction activities on China's own territory fall within China's sovereignty. We have made it clear to the international community that the purpose of relevant construction is to improve the working and living conditions for Chinese personnel stationed on the islands and reefs, and to enhance China's ability to provide more international public goods. It is fair to say that it is a good thing. Meanwhile, I have taken note of Assistant Secretary of State Russel's remarks that the issue of the South China Sea is "not fundamentally an issue between the US and China", and that the US would avoid confrontation with countries including China on this issue. In fact, we've been telling the US that the South China Sea issue is not and should not become an issue between China and the US.
I also agree with the American side that closer cooperation between China and the US is required to address various global issues. Over the past 30-plus years, China and the US have developed a highly intertwined relationship where the two countries have great stakes in each other. Based on the need for shared interests, the two sides have conducted productive cooperation in a wide range of areas at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels, which benefits the two peoples and world peace and development. And exactly because of the increasingly converged interests between China and the US, it is only natural that the two sides may not see eye to eye or have different concerns on some issues from time to time. The development course of the China-US relationship suggests that the need for cooperation is increasingly outweighing differences in the bilateral relationship. A high degree of consensus is being built between the two sides. That is to continue and expand dialogues and exchanges. Both sides are willing to manage differences and channel more energy in discussing how to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and how to address global challenges. The seventh meeting of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue and the sixth China-US High-level Consultation on People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges being held in the US is an effort to promote win-win cooperation following the big direction of building a new model of major-country relationship between China and the US. We expect this round of dialogue and consultation to further demonstrate the positive outcomes of China-US relations to the international community.
Q: Will Premier Li Keqiang put forward a Chinese proposal on how to tackle the debt issue in Greece during his trip to Europe?
A:We have noticed the frequent interactions between relevant parties on the Greek debt issue. We hope Greece could get out of the crisis as soon as possible and enable the integration of the EU to move forward steadily. During Premier Li's visit to Europe, I believe leaders from China and the EU will have a thorough and in-depth exchange of views on issues of common interest, including some practical issues.
Q: The State Council Information Office held a press conference this morning, introducing the relevant plans for the military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. It is said that foreign leaders will be invited to the event. Which countries has China invited? Will Japan be included?
A: This question has been answered at the press conference held by the State Council Information Office this morning. Relevant work is well under way, and further information will be released in due course.
Q: Leaders of the ROK and Japan attended each other's activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties yesterday, sending signals of goodwill to each other. Analysts say that the two countries' relations are at a turning point and might improve rapidly. What is China's comment?
A: We welcome the development of relationship between the ROK and Japan. We also hope that the improvement of their relations will help realize lasting peace and stability in the region and encourage the relevant country to pursue a path of peaceful development.
Q: A Japanese military patrol plane circled over the South China Sea today as part of a joint air drill with the Philippines. Is China concerned about this?
A: We have talked about this issue many times. Currently, what the regional countries care most is still the issue of development. We hope that relevant sides would not deliberately hype up or even create so-called tension in the region. It is hoped that interactions between relevant sides could be conducive to regional peace and stability, rather than the contrary.
Q: Members of the Obama administration said that during the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue, they would bring up the issue of cyber security from both political and economic sides, expressing their concerns about cyber attacks which have been identified by others as coming from China. What is China's comment?
A: China has stated its position on the cyber security issue many times. The cyber security issue is a challenge facing the whole international community, calling for effective cooperation of the international community on the basis of mutual respect. There had been a sound dialogue mechanism between China and the US concerning the cyber security issue, until it was suspended due to a well-known reason which was not caused by China. The resumption of this dialogue requires the US side to properly handle the relevant issues and create conditions for the dialogue. Thanks to the high level of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue and the Strategic Security Dialogue on this track, China and the US can candidly voice and exchange views on various issues of mutual interest.
After the conference, a journalist asked: It is reported that on the morning of June 22, Afghan Taliban militants attacked an Afghan parliament building, leaving at least two people dead and 28 injured. What is China's comment?
Lu Kang: We have noticed relevant reports, and we are shocked and deplore the incident. The Chinese side staunchly opposes all forms of terrorism, and extends condolences to the victims and sympathies to the bereaved families and the injured.
The situation in Afghanistan is undergoing a key transitional period. As a friendly neighbour, the Chinese side sincerely hopes that Afghanistan could realize peace, stability and development at an early date, and that all parties in Afghanistan would bear in mind the bigger picture of peace and stability in Afghanistan and do more things that contribute to the political reconciliation in the country.
