China has delivered the first shipment of 50,000 tons of heavy oil aid it had pledged to North Korea and the rest is being sourced, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a regular press conference on Tuesday.

 

The first shipment arrived in the Nampo port of North Korea on September 16, said Jiang.

 

North Korea, under a joint document issued at the six-party talks on February 13, should declare all nuclear programs and disable all existing nuclear facilities in exchange for a total of 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil or equivalent aid, with the initial shipment of 50,000 tons.

 

South Korea delivered 6,200 tons in July 15, sooner after which North Korea announced its shutdown of the Yongbyon reactor, a widely regarded substantial step, after a 10-member team of UN inspectors arrived in the capital Pyongyang to verify and monitor the reactor sealing.

 

"We consider it necessary for the six parties to reconvene at a proper time. Date for next-phase nuclear talks should be decided by all parties concerned," Jiang said. "China is consulting with the relevant parties on the dates for the next phase of six party talks."

 

North Korean Vice Foreign Minister in charge of Chinese and Asian affairs Kim Yong-il reportedly arrived in Beijing on Tuesday morning.

 

Jiang said Kim's visit was "according to exchange plans between Chinese and North Korean foreign ministries."

 

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his deputy Wu Dawei will meet him. Beside Beijing Kim will also visit other Chinese cities, Jiang said.

 

Talks on East China Sea

 

China and Japan will hold the 10th round of talks on East China Sea issue in late September in Beijing, said Jiang, adding the date has not yet been decided.

 

She said China will, in accordance with the agreement reached by the leaders of the two countries, continue to push forward the momentum of consultation with a pragmatic attitude.

 

"We hope Japan would make joint effort with China," She said.

 

The 9th round of talks was held in Tokyo in June. The two sides made in-depth discussions and exchanged views on the joint development of the gas and oil resources.

 

China-India border issue

 

China and India will hold the 11th meeting between the special representatives to discuss the border issue from September 24 to 26 in Beijing.

 

Special Representative of India and National Security Advisor M K Narayanan will attend the meeting at the invitation of Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo, who will head the Chinese delegation, said Jiang.

 

"China will work with India, in accordance with the political guideline reached by the two countries, to find a reasonable, fair and all-accepted solution (on the border issue) through consultations," Jiang said.

 

She said China would like to make joint effort with India to push forward strategic and cooperative partnership.

 

Germany's contact with Dalai Lama

 

China warned Germany not to receive the Dalai Lama and avoid any official contact with him, Jiang said in responding to a question concerning German Chancellor Angela Merkel's intended meeting with the Dalai Lama later this month in Berlin.

 

"We have very clear stance on the Dalai Lama issue," Jiang said, noting Tibet is a part of China and the Tibet issue belongs to China's internal affairs.

 

"The Dalai Lama is not simply a religious figure. Underneath the disguise of religion, he is a long-time political exile engaged in splittist activities," she said.

 

The Chinese government is firmly against any official contact of foreign officials with the Dalai Lama, the spokesperson said.

 

FM to attend UN meeting, consult African diplomats, visit US

 

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will attend the 62nd Session of the UN General Assembly, the political consultation of foreign ministers between China and African countries and visit the US from September 19 to 29, Jiang said.

 

Yang will deliver a speech at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly and attend a number of multilateral activities, including the UN High-level Meeting on Climate Change and the Summit of the Security Council members on the African issue. He will also meet with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, President of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly Srgjan Kerim and other leaders and foreign ministers, according to Jiang.

 

On the sideline of the UN General Assembly, Yang will hold political consultation with foreign ministers of friendly African countries on September 26 so as to exchange views on the implementation of achievements of the Beijing Summit, the promotion of the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership as well as international and regional issues of common interest, Jiang said.

 

Yang will also visit the US, meet with leaders of the US government to discuss the bilateral relations and important international and regional issues of mutual interest, Jiang said.

 

Assistant FM to attend high-level consultation on Darfur issue

 

Assistant Foreign Minister Zhai Jun will attend the second high-level consultation on Darfur issue slated for September 21 in New York, Jiang said.

 

The forthcoming meeting aims to address Darfur's political process, peace-keeping actions, security and humanitarian situation as well as reconstruction.

 

Jiang said that China has all along maintained the stance of fully respecting Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and stuck to settling the Darfur issue through equal consultation and peaceful means.

 

China suggests the international community make best of the coordinating mechanism among the Sudanese government, the UN and the AU, and push forward the peace-keeping and political process in a balanced way, she said.

 

Jiang also called on the international community to help improve the humanitarian and security situation in Darfur in a bid to achieve lasting peace and stability of the region.

 

Iran nuclear issue

 

Negotiation is the best way to resolve the Iran's nuclear issue and it conformed to the common interest of the international community, Jiang said when commenting on the recent report of the IRNA news agency on French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner's warning that the world should brace for a possible war over the Iranian crisis.

 

"We don't agree with threat by force randomly in the international affairs," Jiang said.

 

She added China has always held that nations should respect each other, and dialogue and consultation are needed to promote trust and reduce difference.

 

In another development, Jiang announced that South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will pay an official visit to China from September 23 to 26 at the invitation of Vice President Zeng Qinghong. Mlambo-Ngcuka will co-chair with Zeng the third meeting of the China-South Africa Bi-National Commission during her stay in China.

 

Deputy Prime Minister of Finance and for Tertiary Education of New Zealand Michael Cullen will pay an official visit to China from September 23 to 26 at the invitation of Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2007)