A Japanese newspaper reported Wednesday that Japan has proposed
cutting yen loans by 10 to 20 billion yen (US$94.8 million to
US$189.7 million) each year from fiscal 2004 and putting an end to
new loans by fiscal 2008.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said at Thursday's
regular press conference that China considers yen loans a form of
financial cooperation between China and Japan with mutual benefits
for both sides, put into practice against a special political and
historical background.
Liu said China and Japan should "properly solve" the issue of
the loans, with "responsible attitudes towards the general
situation of Sino-Japanese relations."
Turning to US issues, Liu noted that China and the US now share
many common interests in bilateral or multilateral cooperation and
international affairs. The two sides should "expand and attach
importance to their shared interests and handle their differences
in a cautious, objective and calm way."
A recent poll conducted in five Chinese cities indicated that
70.9 percent of the Chinese public is "satisfied" with the present
Sino-US relationship, and 56.7 percent believes that the US is
taking a "containment policy" towards China.
Liu reaffirmed that both countries "should attach great
importance to the Taiwan issue." The US should, in particular,
"continue to strictly act in accordance with the three Sino-US
joint communiqués to properly handle the Taiwan issue," he
reiterated.
Liu said China's anti-secession law aims at curbing secessionist
activities conducted by the "Taiwan independence" forces and is
conducive to safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan
Straits and in the Asia-Pacific region.
He said the Chinese government will firmly carry out peaceful
reunification under the "one country, two systems" policy and will
make the utmost efforts to achieve peaceful settlement of the
Taiwan issue.
Meanwhile, China will not allow advocates of "Taiwan
independence" or any other forces to separate the province from
China under any excuse, Liu said.
He said China is willing to work with the international
community in maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan
Straits and in the Asia-Pacific region, "which accord with common
interests of the Chinese people and the international
community."
During the upcoming plenary session starting March 5, the
National People's Congress will examine the draft of the
anti-secession law.
In an update on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Liu said
China will continue its efforts to resume the six-party talks
despite differences between the parties.
China hopes that all participants will rejoin the talks and is
keeping close contact with all the parties in a bid to achieve a
denuclearized Korean Peninsula.
Liu reported that Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei met Foreign
Minister Ban Ki-moon of the Republic of Korea in Seoul
Wednesday.
Both countries believe it is important to reopen the talks as
soon as possible.
Liu said China has no plan of changing its special envoy on
Middle East issues, noting that Ambassador Wang Shijie is a senior
expert on the Middle East and his work has been spoken of highly
since his appointment.
China appointed Wang its special envoy on Middle East issues in
September 2002 to promote a solution of the region's peace process
through peaceful means. The appointment was also a response to
repeated requests from Arab leaders that China should play a larger
role in Middle East affairs.
(Xinhua News Agency, CRI.com March 4, 2005)