China and Japan will hold a fourth round of consultations on the
East China Sea issue on March 6 and 7 in Beijing, according to
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, at a regular press
conference yesterday.
The Chinese delegation will be headed by Hu Zhengyao, director
of the Foreign Ministry's Department of Asian Affairs, while the
Japanese delegation will be led by Kenichiro Sasae, head of the
Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanic Affairs Bureau.
Qin added that China and Japan have held three rounds of talks
on the issue since October 2004.
In other developments, India and the US signed a civilian
nuclear cooperation pact yesterday. Qin said China hopes the
US-Indian nuclear cooperation conforms to the requirements and
provisions of the international Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
and the obligations undertaken by all signatory countries.
He said the international community is working hard to
strengthen the authority and efficacy of the international nuclear
non-proliferation regime. "We hope relevant countries' cooperation
in the peaceful use of nuclear energy can contribute to such
efforts."
Turning to Taiwan, Qin said that Chen Shui-bian's recent
decisions to cease the functions of the "National Unification
Council" and the application of the "National Unification
Guidelines" are a grave affront to the one-China principle.
"I believe Chen's secessionist policies will be widely condemned
by the international community," he said.
Asked whether China is satisfied with the US' response to Chen's
move, Qin urged Washington to stick to its commitments on the
Taiwan issue and be aware of the seriousness and potential threat
secessionist activities pose to cross-Straits peace and
stability.
Moving on to the Iranian nuclear issue, Qin said there is still
a chance to resolve it within the framework of the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
"China hopes Iran will cooperate in a comprehensive way with the
IAEA and clarify the open questions in its nuclear program, to
create the conditions necessary for the proper resolution of the
issue through negotiation," he said.
The IAEA is scheduled to hold a board meeting on March 6.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily March 3, 2006)