Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang on September 22 reiterated that China is willing to resolve the East China Sea issues between China and Japan through dialogue.

    China and Japan have disputes on boundary demarcation in the East China Sea. Qin told a regular press conference that China's natural gas exploration activities are carried out in China's offshore area but not in the disputed area, and China's policy for solving the relevant issues with Japan through dialogue has not changed.

    China and Japan have never conducted border demarcation in the disputed area in the East China Sea. Japan once unilaterally announced a median line, which is not accepted by China. 

    Indonesian navy firing on Chinese fishing vessel

    China Thursday urged Indonesia not to abuse military force after an Indonesian navy warship fired on a Chinese fishing vessel allegedly poaching Monday in the Arafura Sea off the Papua Island.

    The incident took place at 10:50 a.m. local time and the navy fired 13 shots at the Chinese boat named Fuyuan 123, killing one man and wounding two crew members. The 10 crew members including the wounded are still detained in Indonesia.

    "China hopes the Indonesian government could take effective measures to discipline the navy and relevant units, to shun abuse of force in the course of law enforcement and guarantee no more incidents of this kind will occur in future," said Qin Gang.

    "China and Indonesia as friendly countries should deal with problems in fishing cooperation in a sober and restrained attitude rather than resorting to use of force at will," said Qin.

    Immediately after the incident occured, the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Chinese Embassy in Jakarta lodged solemn representations to Indonesia and expressed astonishment and strong dissatisfaction over the navy's inhumane way of law enforcement, said Qin.

    China demand the Indonesian side verify the truth as quickly aspossible and keep China informed, said Qin. "Meanwhile, the Indonesian side should take every step necessary to provide medical aid to those wounded and guarantee the safety of the othercrew members detained."

    "China is paying close attention to the ongoing incident and will make further representations to the Indonesian side," Qin said.

    China, India to hold sixth meeting on border issue

    The special representatives from China and India are scheduled to hold their sixth meeting on border issue in Beijing from Sept. 26 to 27, said Qin Gang.

    China and India reached an agreement on the guiding principles concerning the solution of the border issues in the fifth round of meeting, which was held in New Delhi in April.

    "Proceeding from the overall political interests of bilateral relations, the special representatives from the two countries will explore the framework of solution to China-India boundary issue incompliance with the agreement," said Qin.

    Qin acknowledged China is convinced that the two countries can reach fair and reasonable solutions acceptable to both sides in the spirit of the guiding principles and through equal consultations and mutual understanding.

    The meeting is expected to be co-chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and Indian National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan, Qin said. Enditem

    The Arafuru Sea is about 3,800 kilometers east of the capital city of Jakarta.

    Iran nuclear issue

    China Thursday called for the early resumption of talks between Iran and the European Union (EU) to solve the Iran nuclear issue within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

    "The urgency at present is to resume negotiations between Iran and the EU at an early date," said Qin Gang.

    "The negotiations will help the two sides bridge their differences and finally secure a solution acceptable to all sides," Qin said.

    Qin urged the parties concerned to take a long-term vision, exercise restraint and continue diplomatic negotiations and settle the nuclear issue within the framework of the IAEA.

    "This is conducive to the regional peace and stability and to maintaining the mechanism of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)," said Qin.

    Qin said "there is still room for resolving the Iran nuclear issue through dialogue," urging parties concerned to show flexibility and make efforts for an early resolution of the nuclear issue.

    "China will work with the international community to play a constructive role in solving the nuclear issue at an early date," Qin added.

    The EU on Tuesday circulated a draft resolution to the 35 members of the IAEA Board of Governors. The draft would refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council.

    But the EU has backed away from its demand on Thursday.

    Iran resumed uranium conversion work in August, after rejecting the EU offer to give up its nuclear fuel activities in return for economic and technical incentives. Iran insists that it would never give up legal rights to produce nuclear fuel for fully peaceful purposes.

    The United States and the EU suspect Iran of developing nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian nuclear program, a charge rejected by Tehran.


    Zoellick's remarks on China's political system

    China has noticed the remarks made by US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick on China's political system, said Qin Gang.

    It is reported that the US State Department's No. 2 official Zoellick urged China on Wednesday to begin a transition to democracy, contending the existing one-party system is simply not sustainable.

    Qin said since implementing the reform and opening-up policy 27years ago, China has made noticeable achievements acknowledged by the whole world.

    "China has enjoyed rapid and stable economic growth, increasingly improved people's living standard, made progress in human rights, legal system and various fields," Qin said, noting that China is always devoted for peaceful development, and that China always plays an important role in safeguarding world peace, stability and prosperity.

    China and the United States, as two important countries, enjoy sound development of bilateral ties at present, Qin said, adding that the two sides maintain effective cooperation in such important fields as economy and trade, anti-terrorism, and the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

    Promoting Sino-US constructive and cooperative ties in an all-round way accords with the common interests of both sides, and is also conducive to regional and world peace, stability and development, Qin said.