Sun Yuxi: Good Afternoon! Ladies and Gentlemen! Today Mr. Tang Jiaxuan, Foreign Minister of PR China is holding a press conference here in order to brief you on his visit to four Mid-East countries. To begin with, I would like to ask Mr. Tang to make a statement.

FM Tang: Friends, I might have already met some of the friends present here once earlier at noon today. It is my great pleasure to have the opportunity of paying visit to four countries: Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt at the end of 2001. My visit is designed to have an in-depth exchange of views with each of the four countries on a wide range of issues including the current regional and international situation, the Mid-East situation in particular, anti-terrorism and Iraq, listen to the considered opinion of the four leaders and compare notes with my counterparts. I believe that I have fulfilled the expected goal of my visit. This morning I had very important talks with the Egyptian Foreign Minister right here. We have reached consensus on a number of the above issues. We have identical or very similar views on almost every issue. As I have achieved the goal of my visit, I am happy with the visit. Now, I am ready to take your questions.

Sun: I would ask you to announce the news agency or media you represent before putting your question.

Q: I am Abas of Egyptian Middle East News Agency. Your Excellency, how would you assess the current Sino-Israeli relationship, especially in the light of the Israeli cancellation of sales of advance warning aircraft to China under the US pressure and, instead, selling them to India?

A: China is willing to establish and develop normal state relations with all countries in the world on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. It was pursuant to those principles that we began having diplomatic relations with Israel. China seeks no selfish benefit on the Mid-East issue. In my opinion, China抯 current normal relations with Israel are instrumental in achieving of the goal the Arab people have set for themselves. I myself stay in touch with Mr. Peres, Israeli vice prime minister and foreign minister. We could get across the concern and demand of the Arab people to the Israelis through such channel in a timely manner. And in conjunction with the Israelis?performance and characteristics in different stages, we could also let them know our point of view and work on them through such channel. We are resolutely opposed to and strongly condemn Israelis?indiscriminate bombing and use of force in Palestine. And at the same time we condemn Israel for molesting Lebanon and Syria. It has been our belief that the root-cause of the Mid-East issue lies in the fact that Israel has occupied a wide expense of territory belonging to Arab countries.

Israel goes back on its commitment in its military cooperation with China. Now we are having negotiation with it on compensation. As regards your reference to Israeli抯 intention to sell advance-warning aircraft to India, I learned it the moment I arrived in Jordan, the previous leg of my journey. As details are not yet available to me, I am afraid I have no comment at the moment.

Q: I am Rami, representing Al Ahram Economic Edition. My question is that China has executed scores of Muslim chiefs since the September 11th event. What is your comment and what is China抯 charge against them?

A: I don抰 believe something like that has ever happened at all. In my opinion, the allegation is totally a fabrication. The journalist filing such a report and the editor handling it are all irresponsible. My government has always been pursuing a policy aimed at protecting religious faith and gives protection to all normal religious activities. China is a multi-national country, having 56 ethnic minorities and Chinese citizens believing in Islam have, as always, together with other citizens including Han people, enjoyed rights and treatments prescribed under China抯 Constitution. I have no idea where that news-report comes from. But what I have just said today is a responsible statement. I ask you not to believe such a report.

Q: I am Shao Jie from New China news Agency. Minister Tang, you just mentioned your visit to four Arab countries. It seems that China attaches great importance to the relations between China and Arab countries. Could you visualize the way China would forge close ties with Arab countries?

A: I think Sino-Arab friendship enjoys a deep historical tradition. And furthermore, there exists profound friendship between the Chinese people and Arab people. I feel this friendship is popular not only with Arab countries, but also with the Chinese people. Sino-Arab cooperation has so far been very fruitful. There is no conflict of interest between us, nor do we have any critical issue left over by history. What does exist between us is our sincere wish for cooperation. To my mind, there do exist more favorable pre-requisites and opportunities as well as even broader space for further development of Sino-Arab relationship of friendship and cooperation in this new century. China, for its part, has envisaged the following course of action in furthering the long-standing stable relationship of friendship and cooperation between China and Arab countries in future: First, bilateral political dialogue will be intensified, and bilateral consultation and exchange in all fields will be conducted more often with a view to reaching consensus, making for greater understanding and mutual trust. Second, various international and multilateral forums, including the UN should be utilized so as to harmonize views, cooperate, support and coordinate when it comes to the hot spots in Middle-East and other regions, human rights and the future anti-terrorist issues. Third, in economic and trade field priority should be given to the energy development, two-way investment, transfer of technology and other complimentary cooperation while other effective ways and means are being explored. Fourth, China would actively respond to initiative put forward by some Arab countries to set up a Sino-Arab forum, and Sino桝rab Forum mechanism in particular in order to advance that relationship.

Q: My name is Hamad, from Al Ahram. Your Excellency has spoken to journalist of the need to distinguish terrorism and the liberation movement against foreign aggression. And now this distinction is made urgent by the Israel-Arab conflict. Sharon does not take Arafat as his counterpart and instead regards him as a terrorist to be dealt with. Therefore, I wonder if China could come up with a proposal elaborating on this distinction within and outside the UN so that one can be sure what the terrorism is and what a legitimate national resistance movement is. This has become a crucial issue in this region.

A: I do appreciate your question. The Chinese delegates and experts have been involved in the deliberation and defining exercise in the UN. Back home in China, the Chinese experts and professors are also studying the issue. We in the Chinese foreign ministry are making even greater effort in this regard. The ongoing UN discussion has been underway for more than three months, but so far no consensus has emerged. I am afraid it is not easy to reach such a consensus.

On the Middle-east issue, China is firmly opposed to use of force against the Palestinians by Israel killing the innocent. At the same time, we are also against act of violence committed regardless of all consequence that objectively leads to the death and injury of a great number of civilians. When it comes to fight against terrorism we have taken the view that we must produce hard evidence on the basis of in-depth investigation and we must have a clear-cut target. No double standard should be allowed on this issue, nor can one arbitrarily link terrorism to a certain country, nation, region and religion out of one抯 own strategic and political considerations. Take this region for instance, one can't lump terrorism with the prolonged, just struggle for the recovery of occupied territories and the legitimate struggle of Arab people for protecting and restoration of their legitimate rights. At the same time, we are against expanding the scope of anti-terrorism at will. Terrorism has its own specific political, economic, social and other backgrounds and has something to do with the outstanding issue of North-South relationship, polarization of the rich and the poor. It seems to me that how to define terrorism is a complicated issue we must address. We are confident that the international community will arrive at a right conclusion through joint effort and cooperation.

Q: I am from CCTV. Minister Tang, your have spelt out China抯 views on Mid-East when touching on combating terrorism. My question is what the Chinese position on Mid-East is.

A: No doubt, the failure to find a solution to the Mid-East issue poses a serious threat to that region and adversely affects world peace, stability and development. China has held the view that all the interested sides should reach conciliation and make peace happen eventually through peaceful talks and by persisting in peace process. China抯 position could boil down to the following points: First, an end should be brought to the Israeli抯 occupation of Arab territories on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, the legitimate national rights of the Palestinians should be restored. And simultaneously, the security of Israel should also be guaranteed. Second, the 揕and for Peace?principle and all the achievements attained throughout the previous negotiations should be respected. The Chinese side has always been calling on all interest sides, and I here in Cairo today repeat my appeal that political negotiation should be resumed at the earliest possible date on the basis of the agreements and consensus reached earlier, and new progress should be built on them. Third, China is opposed to Israel抯 wanton use of force against the Palestinians. And we are also opposed to acts of violence leading to large casualties of the innocent. We appeal to Israel and Palestine to promptly put an end to the bloodshed and work actively with the mediation exercise of the international community with a view to paving the way for reopening the negotiation. China is in favor of the greater concern and involvement on the part of the international community in the Mid-East. To this end, the UN Security Council is also to play an even more constructive role.

Q: I am from Kuwait Al Ahbar. Your Excellency, President Mubarak has already proposed to have an international conference on anti-terrorism convened, the purpose of which is precisely to give a definition of terrorism. What is the Chinese position? Second, the Indian-Pakistani relations are causing tension in South Asia, what is China抯 view on this issue?

A: As early as 1986, His Excellency President Mubarak came up with the important proposal with reference to convening an international conference on anti-terrorism to deliberate on the definition of terrorism. We highly appreciate that proposal which displays the vision of President Mubarak. China is supportive of it. And I did speak to the Egyptian foreign minister in the same vein.

As for Kashmir, it was a chronic and ticklish issue left over by the colonists before they had to leave the South Asia subcontinent. And it becomes the root-cause of the long-standing strained relations between India and Pakistan. As both of them are our close neighbors, China has maintained good relations with both the two counties. Over the recent years, China and India have resumed the friendly relations that had been in existence before. Sino-Pakistan relations are without difficulties. This relationship is described by Pakistan friends as 揳ll-weather friendly relations and cooperation? We take the position of advising them to make up when it comes to Kashmir梩he core issue leading to the worsening of their relations. China hopes that they will keep cool and exercise restraint and persist in resolving the issue through peaceful political dialogues without resort of force. While I am visiting Middle East, Mr. Musharraf is also on a state visit in China. The Chinese leaders have done the same. In January 2002, Premier Zhu Rongji is scheduled to pay a visit to India, and he will tell them the same thing to the India leaders. In my opinion, the international community must attach great importance to the development of India-Pakistani relations. Should something happen again in the South Asia subcontinent, then it will no longer remain an issue of that subcontinent, rather, it will impact the entire region, even peace and stability in the world at large. That would not be conducive to the just cause of the Arab counties and would have a negative impact on it.

Q: I am correspondent for Egyptian Al Gumhuria and Al Masa. Your Excellency, China joined the WTO last month. Would China continue to support and safeguard the interest of the developing countries in the WTO the way it does in the UN Security Council? My second question is relating to the Middle East. You have just called on Palestine and Israel not to use force. However, that would be most unlikely to happen as long as Sharon is in office. As a big power, where does China stand on the question of dispatching observers to Palestine and Israel so as to propel the bilateral negotiation?

A: I would like to answer your last question first. China has already expressed its support to the proposal of dispatching UN observers to Palestine and Israel believing that they would be helpful to relax the tension in that region.

With reference to the question whether or not China will change its policy vis-?vis developing countries and ignore their legitimate rights because of China抯 commercial interests now that China is a WTO member. As you know, China is itself a developing country; developing counties constitute the cornerstone and foundation of China抯 foreign policy. It takes China 15 years altogether and unimaginable and formidable effort to become a WTO member. The purpose is to achieve a balance of rights and obligations. Therefore, it is hard to imagine that China could break its promise by doing something damaging to the interest of the developing countries. This is out of the question. Like in other international organizations, China will stand for the interest of the developing counties and echo their feelings in the WTO. Please do believe me that China will always remain a loyal and reliable friend of the people of developing countries including Arab countries. Recently, the WTO conference in Doha has unanimously concluded that a new round of multilateral trade talks could be set in motion. China will keep on protecting the legitimate interest of the developing countries and voice its opinion in their interest in the upcoming new round.

Sun: That抯 all for today. I would like to thank Minister Tang. Thank you all.