President Hu to attend APEC summit in ROK

    Li confirmed that Chinese President Hu Jintao will attend the informal leaders' meeting of the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation in the Republic of Korea (ROK) this year.

    The itinerary of President Hu will be announced by the Foreign Ministry spokesman, he said without giving details.

    It is "very likely" that Chinese President Hu Jintao would go to the United States this year for celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, the diplomat said.

    China sovereignty over Diaoyu Islands "indisputable"

    China has "indisputable, historical and legal sovereignty" over the Diaoyu Island and the adjacent islands. Relevant problems should be solved through talks on the basis of facts and should not affect the healthy development of the Sino-Japanese ties, he said.

    He called for concerted efforts of the two countries in handling historical issues and the Taiwan issue "properly" as well as continuing to strengthen cooperation on the basis of the two nations' "overall interests".

    The minister said that "proper conditions and atmosphere" should be created to facilitate the resumption of the exchange of high-level visits between China and Japan.

    "We should proceed from the fundamental interests of the peoples of both countries and follow the principle of 'draw lessons from history and look into the future'," said the minister.

    "We should proceed from the fundamental interests of the peoples of both countries and follow the principle of 'draw lessons from history and look into the future'," said the minister.

    In response to a Japanese reporter's question when the premier and prime minister of China and Japan can resume the exchange of visits after several years of halt, Li said that he believes Japan and China, and the peoples of both countries, should carry forward their friendship from generation to generation.

    "Over the past couple of years, the leaders of the two countries have been meeting for several times on multilateral occasions, and they have had very friendly discussions," he added.

    Li said Sunday that said relations between China and Japan were achieved as a result of the "long-term and arduous efforts" made by generations of leaders, governments and peoples of the two nations.

    "It is a hard-won result and deserves to be cherished," said the minister.

    To maintain sound relations with Japan is a set policy of China and the Sino-Japan friendship should continue from "generation to generation".

    China to expand ties with Pakistan

    Li expressed his belief that China and Pakistan will further strengthen their bilateral relations and cooperation in multi-lateral spheres and various regional organizations.

    This is conducive not only to our peoples, but to the regional development and stability, he said.

    During this process, the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) will play a role as a bridge and unite the Asian countries together, Li said.

    The Chinese foreign minister said China and Pakistan are friends under "all weather conditions."

    We wish the Fourth Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the ACD to be held next month in Pakistan a success, he said.

    Taiwan "Dollar diplomacy" an act of "Taiwan independence"

    Taiwan secessionist forces have done everything they can, including the "dollar diplomacy", or the "bribery diplomacy", to achieve their goal of "Taiwan independence ", said Li.

    Sino-Russian relations are good

    The foreign minister referred to the Sino-Russian ties as "successful and Fruitful".

    Li said the two sides had completely resolved their boundary issues left over from history during Russian President Putin's state visit to China last year. From then on, the Sino-Russian border line has become a border of "peace, friendship and cooperation".

    This is beneficial to the peoples of both countries, and peace and stability in the region and the world, said Li.

    Li said bilateral cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, culture, education and military have been developing steadily.

    In addition, the two sides are conducting effective and substantive cooperation in more than 100 inter-state organizations,including the United Nations, and regional organizations including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

    EU arms embargo on China "obsolete, useless"

    The maintenance of the European arms embargo on China is "obsolete and useless", Li Zhaoxing said.

    Chinese foreign minister on China-US relations

    Li Zhaoxing said that Sino-US relations have being making headway as the two countries share extensive interests.

    It is entirely helpful for the two countries to conduct mutual cooperation in a wide range for the benefits of the two peoples, said Li.

    To ensure a healthy development, a long term and strategic view should be adopted, said Li. First of all, the view should be adopted to deal with the most sensitive issue in the Sino-US relations, that is, the Taiwan issue.

    In other words, it is essential for the two countries to abide by principles in Sino-US joint communique, said the foreign minister.

    Li also said that it is very likely for President Hu Jintao to attend the 60th anniversary celebration of the United Nations as UN secretary-general Kofi Annan has extended very warm invitations for many times for Hu to come to the UN headquarters and attend the celebration.