The Foreign
Ministry said yesterday that China and Australia are keen to
cooperate with each other in the peaceful use of nuclear energy on
the basis of equality and reciprocity.
Sino-Australian cooperation is in the interests of both sides
and conducive to furthering friendly and cooperative bilateral
relations, the ministry's spokesman Qin Gang said at yesterday's
regular press briefing.
In response to a question on the reported Sino-Australian
negotiations on uranium trade that concluded on Monday, Qin said
both sides had reiterated that they will support international
efforts for nuclear non-proliferation.
The two sides will cooperate in the peaceful use of nuclear
energy in order to fulfill their international obligations, he
said.
As to whether the two sides will sign a uranium trade agreement,
Qin said he had not received any information yet.
Turning to the Iran nuclear issue, Qin said Russia's compromise
proposal is still a "helpful attempt" to solve the current
standoff.
Iran resumed talks with Russia on Monday in Moscow over the
proposals, one day after an Iranian diplomat said it had lost
interest in the Russian plan.
Last December, Moscow offered to enrich uranium for Iranian
power plants on Russian soil, saying that the proposal would secure
Iran's legal nuclear rights while guaranteeing the peaceful use of
the technology.
However, talks between Russia and Iran have so far not produced
any breakthroughs.
"We support negotiations between Russia and Iran and hope they
can still make progress," Qin said.
China and Russia rejected proposals on Monday from the US, the
UK and France for a UN Security Council statement demanding that
Iran clear up suspicions about its nuclear program. The five
governments make up the council's permanent members with veto
powers.
On the six-party Korean Peninsular nuclear issue talks, Qin said
South Korea's new chief negotiator, Chun Young-woo, visited Beijing
from March 9 to 11 and met with his Chinese counterpart Wu
Dawei.
Both agreed that China and South Korea should continue close
contact and cooperation and make efforts to implement the
previously negotiated joint statement, realize the denuclearization
of the Korean Peninsula thereby safeguarding peace in Northeast
Asia.
Chun was appointed as the chief negotiator to the six-party
talks last month, replacing Song Min-soon who was promoted in
January to the post of chief secretary to the president for
unification, foreign and security policy.?
In another development, a US Pacific Command delegation is
expected to visit China this week as part of an agreement last year
between US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Chinese Defense
Minister Cao
Gangchuan.
Qin said the military exchange visit follows a Sino-US
commitment reached in October to strengthen mutual understanding in
the military field.
"The plan was rich in content, covering various areas," he said,
adding that he anticipates further regular exchanges involving
military leaders and representatives of military schools.
Moving on to China-Japan relations, Qin called on Japan to
properly settle major issues relating to Taiwan and its history,
and work with China to promote the development of bilateral
ties.
He said China hopes Japan will abide by the spirit of "using
history as a mirror and looking forward to the future" and adhere
faithfully to the principles embodies in the three political
documents they signed.
Recent remarks made by Japan's leaders and information from
Tokyo have undermined the development of China-Japan relations.
Qin also stressed that China values, and hopes to develop
friendly and cooperative relations with all neighboring countries
including those in South Asia.
He said China will work with its South Asian neighbors to
safeguard peace and stability in the region and promote common
development.
According to the spokesman, Dominican President Nicholas
Liverpool will visit China from March 19 to 25, and Brazilian Vice
President Jose Alencar will visit from March 19 to 24.
During Alencar's visit, Vice Premier Wu Yi
will co-chair with him the first session of the China-Brazil
High-level Committee on Consultation and Cooperation to be held in
Beijing.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily March 15, 2006)