On the afternoon of March 9, 2010, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang held a regular press conference and answered questions.

Qin Gang: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen! I have an announcement to make.

At the invitation of Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, David Miliband, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, will pay an official visit to China from March 14 to 17.

Now the floor is open.

Q: Will Premier Wen Jiabao visit Myanmar this month?

A: China and Myanmar are friendly neighbors and have high-level exchanges of visits and mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields. We hope the friendly exchanges and mutually-beneficial cooperation will be maintained. On your specific question, if there is such an arrangement, we will release information in due course.

Q: On the Iranian nuclear issue, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Sunday's press conference that sanctions against Iran are not a proper solution to the issue. Chinese officials to the UN said days ago that China may finally agree on sanctions against Iran. Could you make a clarification on that? Besides, according to the statistics from the Customs, in January China's crude oil import from Iran fell to the lowest level in the past three years. Does it have anything to do with the current Iranian nuclear issue?

A: On Sunday, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has given a clear and comprehensive account of China's position on the issue. China has all along held that the Iranian nuclear issue needs to be resolved peacefully through dialogue and negotiations by diplomatic means. This is in the interest of all parties concerned. China is of the view that there is still space for diplomatic efforts and dialogue and consultation are the best option which should not be too readily abandoned. On the Iranian nuclear issue, China has all along played a responsible role. We stay in communication with relevant parties and will continue to do so.

On China's crude oil import from Iran, I am not aware of the specific figures. As to the amount and timing of import, it is up to Chinese oil corporations to decide in light of the market situation.

Q: China recently rejected a visa application from an Australian writer who planned to go to Shanghai for an international literature festival. Does China reject him because he is HIV positive?

A: Thank you for sharing the information. I have not heard about the issue and will have further inquiry about that. The competent authorities of China deal with the entry application by foreigners according to the Law of the People's Republic of China on Control of the Entry and Exit of Aliens. There are also related regulations in health quarantine field. I believe competent authorities adopt a serious approach in properly handling the issues related to the entry and exit of foreigners according to relevant laws and regulations.

Q: It is reported that Taiwan is trying to push the US to sell F-16 Fighters. What is your position on that? It is also reported that during the US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg's visit to China, the talks between China and the US also focused on the US arms sales to Taiwan. Can you confirm?

A: On your first question, China is firmly opposed to the US arms sales to Taiwan. This position is unequivocal and consistent. We urge the US side to abide by the principles enshrined in the three joint communiqués and the China-US Joint Statement, take China's position seriously and respect China's core interests and major concerns. The US need to properly handle sensitive issues including arms sales to Taiwan and stop the promotion of arms sales to Taiwan so as to maintain the healthy and stable development of China-US relations.

On the second question, during the visit to China by the US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and Senior Director Jeffrey Bader for the National Security Council for Asian Affairs, the two sides exchanged views on China-US relations and other issues of mutual interest. We've made our solemn position clear on the US arms sales to Taiwan.

Q: Akitaka Saiki, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Ministry and Head of the Japanese delegation to the Six-Party Talks, is visiting China today. Please brief us on his itinerary.

A: Mr. Akitaka Saiki is in China for a visit from 9th to 10th. He will meet respectively with Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai and Special Representative Wu Dawei of the Korean Peninsula Affairs of the Chinese Government. The two sides will exchange views on issues of mutual interest.

All parties concerned attach importance to the Six-Party Talks. Recently, relevant parties have maintained close communication and dialogue with each other and we hope this can be conducive to the early resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

Q: It is reported that Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping will visit Europe this month. Can you confirm? What is the specific arrangement of his visit?

A: Vice President Xi Jinping will visit Russia later this month and will attend the opening ceremony of the Year of Chinese Language in Russia. As for the specific itinerary of his visit to Europe, we will release relevant information in due course.

Q: Please brief us on Mr. Miliband's visit to China, for example, who will meet with him and what are the arrangements?

A: During Foreign Secretary Miliband's visit to China, Chinese leaders will meet with him and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will have talks with him. The two sides will exchange views on China-UK relations and major international and regional issues of mutual interest. Besides Beijing, he will also visit Shanghai. We hope the visit will enhance the good momentum of the development of bilateral relations, deepen mutual understanding and trust, and promote communication and cooperation in various fields so as to push forward the further development of China-UK relations and China-EU relations.

Q: It is reported that the DPRK Government has proposed a new ambassador to the Chinese Government. What is your consideration on that? When will you give your feedback to the DPRK side?

A: I will have further inquiry on the developments you talked about. No matter who will be the next DPRK ambassador to China, we would like to maintain close communication and cooperation with him so as to jointly promote the development of China-DPRK good-neighbourly, friendly and cooperative relations.

If there are no more questions, thank you. See you!