Premier Wen Jiabao will visit the Philippines from January 13 to 16, and attend a series of meetings in Cebu City, the Foreign Ministry announced yesterday.

 

The meetings will include the 10th ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and South Korea) summit, the 10th China-ASEAN summit, and an East Asian regional summit, ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao announced at a regular press briefing.

 

Wen will also chair the 7th annual meeting of leaders of China, Japan and South Korea.

 

Prior to Wen's visit, upon invitation by Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto Romulo, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will attend a series of foreign ministers' meetings in Cebu City from January 11 to 12, according to Liu.

 

The meetings will include a China-ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting, ASEAN+3 foreign ministers' working luncheon, and East Asia summit foreign ministers' working luncheon.

 

Li will also preside over the 4th meeting of the Tripartite Commission of China, Japan and South Korea.

 

ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) includes Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

 

Both Wen and Li's visits, originally scheduled for mid-December, were postponed after Typhoon Utor that ripped through the Philippines leaving destruction in its wake.

 

On the issue of the South China Sea, Liu said "China has indisputable sovereignty over the Xisha and Nansha Islands as well as adjacent islands. We have all historical and legal evidence needed to prove this."

 

Liu was responding to accusations from Vietnam that China was infringing on its sovereignty by erecting structures marking the base points of China's territorial sea on the Xisha Islands.

 

This is an issue within China's sovereignty, and other countries have no right to intervene, Liu noted.

 

He added that according to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and according to the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone, the Chinese government publicized the base points on the Xisha Islands in 1996.

 

Responding to a possible transit stop in the US by Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian on his trip to Nicaragua next week, Liu urged the US to take practical steps to contain "Taiwan independence" forces.

 

"The Chinese government firmly opposes any official exchange between the US and the Taiwan authorities," he noted. "The US government should not allow Chen to conduct any activity in the US in any name or under any guise. Nor should the US send any wrong signal to 'Taiwan independence' forces."

 

In Washington, Sean McCormack, the US Department of State spokesman, reportedly said that in terms of transit, the US "has been consistent with our obligations and our one-China policy."

 

Liu also said that a contingency plan involving US and Japan for a potential military conflict across the Taiwan Straits should follow the one-China principle.

 

News reports stated that Japan and the US would discuss the plan this February aiming to curb China's rise in East Asia.

 

Liu said Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, and that any considerations between Japan and the US should firmly adhere to the one-China policy.

 

"China-Japan and China-US relations are improving, and we hope relevant parties can do more positive contribution to the development of bilateral ties," he added.

 

In another development, Liu said China has extended its condolences following the death of North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun.

 

According to Liu, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and Foreign Minister Li had already sent messages of condolence to North Korea.

 

Liu said Paek had worked tirelessly for Sino-North Korean relations, and expressed his belief that Paek's efforts would be sustained by both sides.

 

He also said China would like to work with all relevant parties to reinvigorate the six-party talks process in order to achieve the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as soon as possible.

 

Paek, who died on Tuesday at the age of 78, was appointed foreign minister in 1998. He paid his last official visit to China in June 2006.

 

On state visits, Liu announced that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will visit China from January 9 to 11, and that both sides will hold in-depth discussions on the Middle East issue during his visit.

 

"We believe that the discussion is conducive to the peace process of the region, and China will continue to play constructive role in resolving the Middle East issue," Liu said.

 

He also said that a concert will be held to mark the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Israel during Olmert's visit.

 

Liu said Segolene Royal, the presidential candidate of the Socialist Party of France, will lead a 15-member delegation to visit China from January 6 to 9.

 

China's Party and state leaders will meet with the delegation with both sides ready to exchange views on party and bilateral relations as well as issues of mutual concern, he said.

 

"We hope the visit would further strengthen dialogue and exchanges between the two countries so as to enhance mutual understanding and push ahead with the all-round strategic partnership," Liu added.

 

Royal became the Socialist candidate for the 2007 presidential election last November, taking her one step closer toward becoming France's first female president.

 

Liu said Ali Larijani, special envoy of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is paying a visit to China from January 4 to 5.

 

He said the Chinese and Iranian sides would exchange views on bilateral ties, the Iranian nuclear issue, and international and regional issues of common concern.

 

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily January 5, 2007)