Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister Tang: Good morning ladies and gentlemen. Ladies and gentlemen, just now I have held extensive discussion with H.E. Secretary-General, Kofi Annan on UN-related issue including the follow-up action of the Millennium Summit, reform of the UN and Security Council and UN peacekeeping operations. The two of us also exchanged in an in-depth manner our views of other global issues including some hot-spot issues. The discussion was a very good one and we managed to have very in-depth change of view. This is already the 4th trip to China by Mr. Annan as the Secretary - General of the United Nations. He is an old friend of China. The fact that he is coming to visit us at the beginning of the new century and on the verge of the Chinese Spring Festival means that the visit has special and positive significance. The Chinese government and Chinese people wish to extend the warm welcome to Secretary-eneral. President Jiang and Vice Premier Qian would also have meetings with him respectively. Now the floor.
SG: Thank you very much, Mr. Minister. I think you've given our friends here the ladies and gentlemen of the press description of the nature of our discussions, but let me say that China as a permanent member of the Security Council and a country that plays an important role in the activities of the UN and a country that I have worked with over the years always provides an opportunity for us to review not only how we can make the UN much more effective and efficient but also to tackle some of the, have discussions on some of the trouble-spots around the world and what we can do collectively to bring them under control. I was also happy to be able to hear from the Minister who has just returned from my own continent, Africa, and to share with me his own assessment of the situation there and the discussions he had with the African leaders in resolving some of the conflicts on the ground and on the important issue of the fight against poverty. I think we will now take your questions.
Q: I am from Xinhua News Agency. I have got a question for the Secretary-General. In light of the changes of international situation, United Nations is also confronted with many new challenges. How would you evaluate and comment on the role of China in the United Nations?
SG: I think China is playing a very important role and in fact I had the opportunity to thank the Minister for the constructive role they played at the end of the year when we were [inaudible] to resolve the conflicts surrounding the contributions of the member states. China is also playing an active role in UN peacekeeping operations and is participating in more than half a dozen operations, including East Timor, where we have about 55 Chinese policemen and women serving in East Timor. And I have also discussed with the Minister further Chinese participation in the area of peacekeeping and of course they also share my concern and the concern of the UN for the implementation of the Millennium plan of action following the Millennium Summit and the emphasis we have put on poverty alleviation, on protecting of the environment and on health and education of both girls and boys. And I think China is going to continue to play its role in the UN and I have seen how active it has been in the Security Council. And just if I may [inaudible] on peacekeeping, I think at an appropriate time the Minister and the Chinese authority make their own announcement but we did indicate other areas where China could be helpful.
Q: I am from Associated Press. Yesterday at the airport you mentioned the resolution on human rights, did you discuss this issue today? (There was a second question on the Secretary-General's future plans.)
SG: On the human rights issue we are continuing our discussions over lunch and I expect that we will tackle it then. But as you raise it yesterday, China has signed two covenants. It is a question of ratification and I intend to discuss it with the Minister. On the question of my future, I have not discussed it.
Q: I am a correspondent from CCTV for Mr. Tang. At the end of last year, China received visit by the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq Aziz and the State Councilor Amat of China also visited Iraq. Some people say that there is some change in China's policy towards Iraq. Could you comment on that?
Minister Tang: China's policy towards Iraq has been consistent. The core contents of our policy are two: Number one, Iraq must unconditionally implement the relevant UN resolutions and honor its commitments that it has made in the past. Secondly, on the question of sanctions imposed against Iraq, China has always maintained that there is a need for an objective and actual appraisal of these implementations of those sanctions and the resolutions. Sanctions will only aggravate the suffering of the ordinary people of Iraq and China is not in favor of arbitrary use of sanctions. And the other thing which is very important is that it is most important to respect the sovereignty and territory integrity of Iraq as an independent country.
Q: I am a Japanese journalist. Regarding the reform of the Security Council, I'd like to know whether the Secretary-General has made the request to Minister Tang that China could understand the importance of the reform of the Security Council, for example to increase both the number of permanent member states and the number of impermanent members. What's China's response on this? (from Chinese interpretation)
Minister Tang: Actually we did not go into details as you have mentioned in your question. I reiterated our principle position, which has been made public in the past. I did give special emphasis on the following view that this reform of the Security Council bears on the keen interest of many member countries and therefore it is important to subject the proposals and discussion to soliciting of views of member countries and to have consensus. I also emphasized that the primary purpose of the reform should be improving the functions and the efficiency of the United Nation and the Security Council. In order to enable the organization to make more positive contribution to world peace and common development it should not be intended to sharpen the already existing different views.
[The last question was not recorded. It was on reaction to the transfer of power in the Philippines. The Secretary-General responded by saying that he was "very happy that the change in the Philippines took place peacefully. I think it is a victory for democracy. I wish the new president success, and I look forward to working with her." *****