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NPC & CPPCC > Press Conference
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China ready to work with others at G20 - FMBy Zuo Likun (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-03-07 12:05 China is ready to work with the United States and other countries at the Group of 20 summit in London in April in an effort to put the world economy back on track, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Saturday.
Yang made the remarks at a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the sidelines of the ongoing session of the National People's Congress, China's parliament.
The top Chinese diplomat hoped the summit can boost confidence, strengthen coordination on macroeconomic policies, stabilize financial markets, and kickstart necessary reforms in the global financial system and regulatory regime. President Hu Jintao will meet Barack Obama for the first time since his US counterpart took office in January on the sidelines of the April summit in London, according to Yang. Beijing is ready to work with the new Obama administration to improve bilateral ties, especially against the backdrop of worsening international financial crisis, he added. "China and the United States share broad common interests." Dalai Slammed for "Greater Tibet" Attempt
The Dalai Lama attempted to establish the so-called Greater Tibet on a quarter of the Chinese territory, driving away all the Chinese people of other ethnic groups who have been living in Tibet for generations, Yang told the reporters. "Would Germany, France or other countries accept that a quarter of their territory be separated," asked he. Yang went on to urge other countries not to allow the Dalai Lama to visit their countries. "It's not a matter of doing a favor to China, but rather an obligation under the basic principles of international relations." The self-claimed Buddhist was behind the violent riots, which killed at least 18 civilians and caused tremendous trouble to the people's life in Lhasa last March. France Urged to Make Positive Steps
But he said he is fully confident about the long-term development of the Sino-French relations. Bilateral relations suffered a setback after French President Nicolas Sarkozy met the Dalai Lama in Poland in early December, despite strong protest from China. The recent auction of the looted bronze rabbit and rat heads sculptures by Christie's in Paris 'added more salt to injuries' when the two counties were acting cautiously to repair their ties. "China has the right to recover them," the Yang claimed, reiterating the Chinese government's opposition to the relics' auction. Such an auction was "immoral", he said. The bronze rabbit and rat heads sculptures were looted from Yuanmingyuan, or the Old Summer Palace, by Anglo-French allied forces during the Second Opium War in 1860. China had tried repeatedly to dissuade Christie's from auctioning them. But the efforts failed.
On relations with another major world power Russia, Yang pledged practical cooperation cooperation in various fields, including energy, and science and technology, as the two countries celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. He called a recent agreement on oil pipeline project a "mutually beneficial and win-win result". Under the deal signed in February, China will lend US$25 billion to Russia in exchange for a 20-year oil supply starting from 2011 with a total volume of 300 million tons.
An editorial of the People's Daily has called on China's top political advisory body to made due contributions to help the country weather through difficulties.
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FM Yang meets the press 
