Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying held a press conference on June 18, 2013.

Q: ROK President Park Geun-hye will visit China next week. She speaks Chinese and is interested in Chinese philosophy. Does China think that she is an old friend of the Chinese people?

A: ROK President Park Geun-hye will pay a state visit to China from June 27 to 30. She will meet and hold talks with Chinese leaders to discuss bilateral relations as well as major international and regional issues of common interest. The two sides are in close communication and coordination on relevant arrangement of the visit.

China and the ROK are important neighbours. A sound and steady China-ROK relationship serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples and contributes to regional peace, stability and development. China and the ROK have maintained a sound momentum of high-level communication since the inauguration of President Park Geun-hye. She pays high attention to developing relations with China and has been committed to promoting China-ROK friendship and cooperation. We take her as an old friend of the Chinese people. We expect and believe that President Park Geun-hye's visit would play an important role in enhancing our strategic mutual trust, charting the course for bilateral relations and pushing forward our cooperation and exchanges in all fields.

Q: What is China's expectation for the negotiation on the Iranian nuclear issue following Hassan Rowhani's election as Iran's new president?

A: Dialogue and cooperation is the only right way to secure a comprehensive, long-term and proper settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue. We hope that Iran and P5 plus one countries could carry forward dialogue and negotiation, hold a new round of talks as soon as possible, properly handle differences and explore a practical and viable solution so as to make headway at an early date. China will keep in touch with all relevant parties and make constructive efforts to push forward the negotiation on the Iranian nuclear issue as we did before.

Q: Kim Kye-gwan, First Vice Foreign Minister of the DPRK arrived in Beijing today. Please brief us on his itinerary. Will he meet with Chinese officials?

A: Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui will co-chair the strategic dialogue between foreign ministries of China and the DPRK with Kim Kye-gwan, First Vice Foreign Minister of the DPRK on June 19 in Beijing. They will discuss bilateral relations, the situation on the Korean Peninsula as well as international and regional issues of common interest.

Q: The G8 Summit is being held in the UK. Participants are divided on the Syrian issue. Russia does not agree with the US and the EU on arming the Syrian opposition and lifting the arms embargo against Syria. What is more, it is difficult to move forward on preparing the second Geneva conference on the Syrian issue proposed by Russia and the US. What is China's comment?

A: The political resolution of the Syrian issue is at a critical stage. All relevant parties should be committed to upholding peace and stability of Syria, the Middle East region and the world at large, keep to the political resolution, be prudent, practical and responsible, meet each other halfway and try to surmount all the differences and obstacles. What is pressing now is to ensure the success of the second Geneva conference, avoid taking any action that may further militarize the Syrian crisis and make positive and constructive efforts for the political resolution of the Syrian issue.

Q: What is China's comment on France's investigation into the attack against Chinese students?

A: As I said yesterday, the Chinese government and Embassy in France are highly concerned about the incident and have lodged representations with the French side, urging the latter to properly investigate and handle the case, bring the perpetrators to justice and take concrete actions to safeguard Chinese citizens' safety and legitimate rights and interests. We have noted France's recent statement and will keep in touch with the French side.

Q: US President Barack Obama said in an interview that he was pleased to see China take a more cooperative approach to the Korean nuclear issue. How does China respond?

A: China's position on the Korean nuclear issue is consistent and clear, that is, to realize denuclearization, safeguard peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and solve relevant issue peacefully through dialogue and consultation.

Q: Please brief us on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's visit to China.

A: Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will pay an official visit to China from June 18 to 21. During the visit, President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and State Councilor Yang Jiechi will meet with him, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will hold talks with him. They will exchange views on international and regional issues of common interest.

China highly values the role of the UN and has fully, actively and deeply engaged in UN cooperation. We will continue to enhance cooperation with the UN and work with other member states to ensure that the UN will play a bigger role in safeguarding world peace, promoting common development and boosting international cooperation.