Words, not Weapons, the Answer: President Jiang

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, January 10, 2003

Words, not Weapons, the Answer: President Jiang

The nuclear issue in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) would be best resolved through direct dialogue between the United States and the DPRK, Chinese President Jiang Zemin said Thursday in Beijing.

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The nuclear issue in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) would be best resolved through direct dialogue between the US and the DPRK, Chinese President Jiang said Thursday.

Jiang made the remark in Beijing Thursday at a meeting with visiting French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin who arrived in Beijing earlier Thursday for a two-day visit to China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Tang Jiaxuan.

Jiang said China supported the non-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, upholding its peace and stability, and advocated a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue.

The next move on the Iraq issue should be decided by the United Nations Security Council on the basis of opinions from all parties, said President Jiang.

Jiang said that Iraq was generally cooperative after the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1441, and at present weapons inspection in Iraq should be continued to clarify the issue and the work of UN inspectors should be supported.

De Villepin said the French side held great store by France-China relations and it was more imperative for the two countries to strengthen consultation and coordination when the current international situation was undergoing drastic changes.

Jiang also spoke positively of Sino-French relations and of the talks between the two foreign ministers held earlier Thursday.

He said bilateral contacts and exchanges in recent years had become much closer with frequent exchanges of visits at various levels.

Meanwhile, bilateral trade was on the rise and China had received many French businesses, said Jiang, adding that there were broad prospects for bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

He also pointed to bilateral cooperation in culture, education and science. He cited the establishment of a Chinese cultural center in Paris last year, the cultural year activities to be held in both countries, and the signing of their first agreement on educational cooperation and the document on setting up a bilateral scientific and technological center in China.

He said China was pleased with the continuing overall progress in Sino-French relations.

De Villepin conveyed French President Jacques Chirac's greetings to Jiang and Chirac's congratulations on the success of the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

He said Chirac believed the congress was of great significance for China's future development.

Chinese, French FMs hold talks

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and his French counterpart Dominique de Villepin held talks in Beijing Thursday and spoke positively of the growth of bilateral ties.

Tang said the two countries kept in close high-level contact and had consulted and worked together well in international affairs, adding that they held identical or similar views on many major international issues.

Trade between the two countries had increased last year and they signed important agreements on economic and trade cooperation,he said.

New progress was made in cultural, scientific and technological and educational exchanges and cooperation, Tang said.

De Villepin said France was willing to expand and deepen ties with China.

France was happy to see that bilateral economic and trade relations had maintained a good momentum, he said, and he hoped the two sides would boost cooperation in energy, environmental protection and aviation.

President Jacques Chirac hoped for strengthening the strategic dialog with China so that the two sides could coordinate their stances on a series of major issues, he said.

The minister said France had followed closely the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, adding France was willing to contribute to China's reforms and opening up.

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