On the afternoon of September 7, 2010, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Yu held a regular press conference and answered questions.

Jiang Yu: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I have no announcements to make. The floor is open.

Q: The Indian Prime Minister said during a media interview that China would like to have a foothold in South Asia and India has to reflect on this reality. What is your comment?

A: As a major member of Asia, China is committed to work with neighboring countries to maintain peace and stability of Asia including South Asia, promote mutually beneficial cooperation and achieve common development. It serves our common interest.

As neighbors and emerging developing countries, China and India enjoy good-neighborly friendship, hand-in-hand cooperation and joint development, which is in the common interest of both. We would like to see a peaceful, stable and prosperous South Asia. China stands ready to continue to develop good-neighborly friendship and promote mutually beneficial cooperation with all South Asian countries including India on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-Existence.

Q: Myanmar will hold its first general election in two decades this November. What expectations China has on the election results? Will China exert pressure on Myanmar to bring about results China wishes to see?

A: Chairman Than Shwe will arrive in Beijing this afternoon and start his state visit to China. President Hu Jintao will hold talks with him tomorrow. Chairman Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao will meet with him respectively the day after tomorrow.

China and Myanmar are close friendly neighbors. This year marks the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. We are ready to take the visit as an opportunity to further consolidate bilateral traditional friendship and make new contributions to regional peace and stability.

The general election in Myanmar is its internal affairs. We always uphold the principle of non-interference in others' internal affairs. It is hoped that the international community will provide constructive help for Myanmar's general election and refrain from any negative impact on its domestic political process as well as regional peace and stability.

Q: Please brief us on the visit to China by Donilon, Deputy Assistant to the US President for National Security Affairs and Summers, Director of the White House National Economic Council. Was the issue of RMB exchange rate touched upon in the talks?

A: Donilon and Summers are now in China for a visit. China and the US exchange views on bilateral relations and other major issues of common interest. They have a number of meeting arrangements in Beijing and information will be released in due course.

China attaches importance to maintaining exchanges with the US at all levels. We hope to, through the visit, exchange views with the US on bilateral relations at present and in the near future, with a view to deepening understanding, enhancing mutual trust and expanding cooperation.

On China-US relations, I would like to emphasize that a sound bilateral relationship serves both countries and the whole world, and takes unremitting efforts from both sides. We hope the US will work with China to conscientiously maintain and implement the important consensus reached between the two Heads of State, strengthen dialogue, exchanges and cooperation, constantly improve mutual trust and properly handle differences and sensitive issues, with a view to promoting sustained and stable development of bilateral relations.

On the issue of RMB exchange rate, competent Chinese authorities have reiterated China's position on many occasions. I would like to emphasize that our direction to further the RMB exchange rate regime reform will not change. The RMB exchange rate floating bands will also remain the same as previously announced in the inter-bank foreign exchange market. The objective is to stabilize the RMB exchange rate basically around an adaptive and equilibrium level. China is resolutely against politicizing economic and trade issues. The RMB exchange rate regime reform will by no means proceed under external pressure.

Q: Was the issue of the Six-Party Talks brought up in the meeting between Premier Wen Jiabao and former US President Carter?

A: Press release has been issued on the meeting. I am not aware of any more information. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not responsible for the delegation.

On the Six-Party Talks, Special Representative Wu Dawei is currently visiting Russia. The purpose of his visit is to exchange views with relevant parties on the current Korean Peninsula situation and resumption of the Six-Party Talks, and mainly heed the opinions and concerns of all parties.

Believing it is in their common interest to continue to push forward the Six-Party Talks and maintain peace and stability on the Peninsula, all parties stand ready to stay in communication and coordination on relevant issues. We hope all parties continue to work together to push for turnabout of the situation and create conditions for resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

Q: A collision happened between a Japanese patrol boat and a Chinese fishing boat in the Diaoyu Island waters this morning. Japan is investigating the Chinese boat engaged in fishing activities in violation of rules and regulations. How do you comment?

A: China is seriously concerned over this, and has made solemn representations with Japan, emphasizing Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands have been China's territory since ancient times, and demanding Japanese patrol boats not engage in so-called "law enforcement" activities in waters near Diaoyu Island, let alone take any action that may jeopardize safety of Chinese fishing boats and their crew. China will closely watch the developments and reserves the right to make further response.

Q: Some critics say that China's close political and economic ties with Myanmar have encouraged Myanmar's poor human rights record. How do you comment?

A: China upholds a foreign policy of good-neighborly friendship with neighboring countries, and maintains sound cooperative relations with all neighbors. A peaceful, stable and progressing Myanmar serves the interest of not only the Myanmar people, but also all countries in the region. Myanmar's domestic issue should be independently resolved by the Myanmar Government and people in the end. The international community should provide constructive help for Myanmar's democracy and development.

Q: US officials said during the meeting between senior Chinese and US officials that President Hu Jintao would soon visit the US. Can you tell us when? Will Premier Wen Jiabao meet President Obama while attending UN General Assembly meetings?

A: Attaching great importance to China-US exchanges at the highest and all other levels, we stand ready to work with the US to meticulously carry out all tasks including high-level exchanges, with a view to promoting sustained, healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.

Information will be released shortly on arrangements concerning Premier Wen Jiabao's attendance at the UN High-Level Plenary Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals as well as the General Debate of the 65th Session of the UN General Assembly. Relevant bilateral meetings are still being arranged. At present I do not have information on the meeting you asked about.

Q: An IAEA report said that Iran was still pressing ahead with its nuclear program despite UN sanctions and banning entry of IAEA inspectors. Has China noted the report and how do you comment?

A: Having noted the IAEA report, we hope Iran fully cooperate with IAEA and build trust of the international community in the peaceful nature of its nuclear program. We also hope relevant parties will step up diplomatic efforts to resume dialogue and negotiation as soon as possible so as to seek effective ways for a comprehensive, lasting and proper settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.

Q: Some people criticize China for encouraging Myanmar's poor human rights record. And others believe although China uphold the principle of non-interference in others' internal affairs, certain practices constitute actual intervention. How do you comment?

A: China upholds the principle of non-interference in others' internal affairs. The affairs of Myanmar should be resolved independently through consultation by the Myanmar Government and people in the end. Myanmar is currently preparing for a general election, which is an important step in promoting its domestic democracy process. As its neighbor, China hopes relevant parties of Myanmar will push for national reconciliation through dialogue and realize democracy and development, under the precondition of maintaining domestic stability. This serves not only the interest of Myanmar, but also the overall interest of regional peace and stability.

Q: Can you provide more details on Than Shwe's visit to China, for example composition of his delegation?

A: Chairman Than Shwe's entourage mainly include U Shwe Mann, Member of the State Peace and Development Council, U Tin Aung Myint Oo, First Secretary of State Peace and Development Council and several cabinet ministers.

My colleague Qin Gang will soon go to the UK and take his new post as Minister at the Chinese Embassy in the UK. He asked me to transfer regards to you all, thank you for your care and support over the years and wish you all a happy stay here.

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