China hopes the German government and leaders always honor their
commitment made to China on Taiwan and Tibet issues and seriously
consider and fully respect China's great concerns on issues
relevant to its core interests, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson
Jiang Yu on Tuesday.
Jiang made the remarks at a regular press conference when asked
to comment on recent China-Germany relations.
The German side had expressed explicitly to China that Germany
attaches great importance to its ties with China, it would continue
to firmly adhere to the one-China policy, and it recognizes Taiwan
and Tibet as parts of Chinese territory,
Jiang said both China and Germany have made great efforts in the
past four months in order to overcome the difficulties emerging
from the bilateral relationship. The foreign ministers of the two
countries had communicated with each other many times. Germany
opposes a "referendum for UN membership" by Taiwan authorities, it
would give neither support nor encouragement to any attempt seeking
"Tibetan independence", said Jiang.
Jiang stressed China hoped that Germany could make joint effort
with China in compliance with norms on dealing with international
relations such as mutual respect, equal treatment and
non-interference in each others internal affairs so as to push
forward a long-term, stable and healthy development of bilateral
relations.
China-Germany relationship was much affected by German
Chancellor Angela Merkel's meeting in last September with the Dalai
Lama, whom China viewed as an exiled separatist under religious
disguise.
Norwegian FM's coming visit
Foreign Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Stoere will pay an
official visit to China from January 28 to 31 at the invitation of
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Jiang announced.
Iran nuclear issue
China says it still expects the Iran nuclear issue to be settled through
diplomatic efforts as foreign ministers from six nations prepare
for discussions on the issue in Berlin on Tuesday.
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will join his counterparts from
Russia, the United States, France, Britain and Germany for talks
over the Iranian nuclear program, starting on Tuesday.
Jiang told reporters, "China views the conference as a
diplomatic effort on the Iran nuclear issue and hopes it will be a
serious and objective assessment of the current situation."
"China expects the meeting to produce diplomatic accomplishments
that will be conducive to a proper settlement of the Iran nuclear
issue," she said, adding that China will endorse proposals and
suggestions that will help realize the goal.
Jiang reiterated China's stance to support the international
nuclear non-proliferation system, and peace and stability in the
Middle East region.
"The Iran nuclear issue has come to a crucial point which
necessitates common efforts from the international community
including Iran to work for a comprehensive, long-term and proper
solution to the issue," she said.
Responding to questions concerning a new round of sanctions on
Iran, Jiang said China hopes any UN resolutions on the Iran nuclear
issue shall be conducive to the said goals.
India-Pakistan ties
As a neighbor of India and Pakistan, China has always supported
the improvement of India-Pakistan relations, Jiang said.
Jiang said China and India are two large developing countries
and to strengthen relations and cooperation between the two sides
serves their common interests and is conducive to regional peace,
stability and prosperity.
Pakistan is China's strategic partner and China attaches great
importance to China-Pakistan relations, she said.
Pushing forward all-round cooperation between China and Pakistan
is China's set policy and China would make joint efforts with
Pakistan to deepen the bilateral strategic partnership.
(Xinhua News Agency January 23, 2008)
