On the afternoon of September 6, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang held a regular press conference.

Qin: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen! I would like to extend my welcome to the 28 civil servants from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, who are taking a national realities study course at Tsinghua University and join us today at our press conference.

I don't have any statement to make, and I am glad to take up questions.

Q: It was reported recently that China released to some countries a detailed schedule on resuming the Six-Party Talks, proposing resuming on 13th. Please confirm. What's China's reaction on the report?

A: The second stage of the fourth round of the Six-Party Talks should be resumed next week. But China has to discuss with other parties on the specific date.

Q: Please brief us on the details of the four agreements between China and Britain. Now that China and Japan contend with each other on the oil and gas exploration in the East China Sea, has the two countries set the date of next round of consultation?

A: British Prime Minister Tony Blair is paying an official visit to China. This morning, Premier Wen Jiabao held a talk with Prime Minister Blair, after which Premier Wen and Prime Minister Blair attended the signing ceremony of four agreements on culture, museum, banking and civil air service. Since the talk and signing ceremony have just concluded, I don't have the texts of the four agreements at hand. But one thing for sure, as comprehensive strategic partners, China and Britain share common interests on a wide range of questions. The conclusion of the four agreements will further promote in-depth cooperation between our two countries in these fields.

On the date of next round of consultation on the East China Sea, China and Japan have to set it through consultation.

Q: President Hu Jintao has postponed his visit to the US. Does the Chinese Foreign Ministry think China and US missed a crucial opportunity of consultation? In addition, what will become the main topics during the meeting between heads of China and the US on the sideline of the UN General Assembly in September.

A: Considering the severe hurricane disaster that hits southern America, and for the benefit of disaster relief work, the heads of two countries decided through consultation to postpone President Hu's state visit to America.

Heads of the two countries have decided to hold a meeting on the sideline of the High Level Plenary of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, to discuss China-US relations and international and regional issues of common interest. Since the meeting will be held on the occasion of the United Nations, the two sides will exchange views on the UN-related matters.

Q: It is reported that British Prime Minister Blair discussed with Chinese leaders the Iranian nuclear issue during his visit. Can you tell us whether Prime Minister Blair touched upon his topic during his talk with Premier Wen Jiabao today?

A: China has consistently maintained that the Iranian nuclear issue should be properly resolved within the IAEA framework. China supports the European countries and Iran in their effort to seek long-term solution through negotiation, which we believe serves the fundamental interest of all parties concerned as well as the peace and stability of this region. We noticed that the EU and Iran still have differences on the relevant questions, and hope the two sides will keep their vision and restraint and take a patient, practical and flexible attitude to close differences through negotiation, so as to eventually find a solution acceptable to all.

Q: Will President Hu Jintao visit the US within this year or next year? Will the postponement of his visit affect President Bush's plan to visit China this year? In addition, will China increase its assistances to the US on top of the announced five million dollars?

A: It is a consensus reached between the heads of two countries to exchange visits within this year. Given the new situation, President Hu Jintao postponed his visit. As to when President Hu will pay his state visit to America, it requires China and the US to work out through diplomatic channel. President Bush's visit to China has also to be decided through consultation.

After southern US was hit by hurricane, China promptly offered five-million-dollar assistances to the US side, and announced that it would offer another batch of emergent disaster relief in kind. This requires contact and consultation between the two sides. 

Q: Given that President Hu has postponed his visit to the US, is there any change in the arrangement for his visit to Canada and Mexico? Can you brief us on the schedule of President Hu's visit to Canada? What agreements will be signed? Will there be an agreement on energy? Second question, China and the DPRK have maintained close contact. What's China's position on DPRK's desire for light water reactor? CNPC plans to acquire PK Company registered in Canada. Please brief us on the development?

A: As far as I know, President Hu Jintao's state visits to Canada and Mexico will proceed as planned. That is to say, President Hu will start his state visit to Canada on September 8. Apart from Canada and Mexico, President Hu Jintao will attend the High Level Plenary of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. On the schedule of President Hu's visit to Canada, according to the current arrangement, President Hu Jintao will meet with Governor General Clarkson in Ottawa and hold talks with Prime Minister Martin. He will also attend a dinner for the first China-Canada Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum in Toronto and deliver a speech. In Vancouver, he will attend a large banquet hosted by Prime Minister Martin and make a speech. During his visit, President Hu will also respectively meet with Governors of Ontario and British Columbia. You asked whether an agreement on energy will be signed during President Hu's visit. In the field of energy, cooperation between China and Canada on the basis of equality and mutual benefit serves the two countries' own interest.

On your second question, all parties concerned will have further talks and consultation on the relevant question at the second stage of the fourth round of Six-Party Talks, so as to find a solution in the interest of all parties and addressing the concerns of all.

On CNPC's acquisition of PK Company you mentioned, I don't have details to offer now. China and Kazakhstan are strategic partners of cooperation. The two sides enjoy good cooperation in various fields, including energy. Such cooperation is mutually beneficial.

Q: Has DPRK proposed a specific date for resuming the 2nd stage of the 4th round of Six-Party Talks? If it has, on which day?

A: You may have noted that the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of DPRK had said that the DPRK would like to resume the meeting in the week starting from September 12th. But the relevant parties will need to reach consensus on the specific date through consultations. And that is what we have been doing.

Q: Japan will raise the issue of kidnapped Japanese at the Six-Party Talks next week. As the chair country, how is China going to coordinate on this issue between DPRK and Japan?

A: The Six-Party talks focus more on realizing denuclearization on Korean Peninsula through dialogues and peaceful means. As to the kidnapping issue you mentioned, we hope the DPRK and Japan will solve it properly through bilateral channel.

Q: What is the reason for the failure of holding the 2nd stage of the 4th round of Six-Party Talks in last week as all parties formally agreed? Which country should bear the main responsibility? What is the main obstacle?

A: It is necessary to know the rule of holding Six-Party Talks before answering this question. The Six-Party Talk requires consensus among all the six parties rather exercises the principle of following majority. A consensus can not be reached even if one party disagrees or faces difficulty. What we are now doing is to reach consensus on relevant issues including resuming the 2nd stage of the 4th round of Six-Party talk. The reason for failing to hold the 2nd stage of Talks as planned is that relevant parties need further consultations on the question. Even during the recess of the Six-Party Talks, all parties conducted close and frequent communications and consultations and this can be regarded as the extention of the Talks.

Q: Did the DPRK clearly proposed to hold the 2nd stage of the 4th round of Six-Party talk on September 13th?

A: As to when the 2nd stage of the 4th round of Six-Party talk will be held, what I can say now is the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK said that DPRK would like to resume the meeting in the week starting on September 12th. Whether the DPRK has proposed a specific date for the meeting, this is a question I can not answer, for I am not the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK.

Q: At the moment, what question is thwarting the parties from reaching consensus and making the Chinese Government unable to formally announce the specific date for starting the 2nd stage?

A: I try to answer your question from a different perspective. If the relevant parties can reach consensus on all questions then we don't have to come back for more meetings. There are disputes and now the relevant parties should consider the overall situation of realizing denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula, show fully the pragmatic and flexible attitude and, try to narrow differences and build up consensus, in order to bring positive progress through Six-Party Talks.

If there are no more questions, the press conference is over. Thank you!