On the afternoon of October 12, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao held a regular press conference.

Liu: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I'm ready to take questions.

Q: State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan visited the US yesterday. What's the purpose of his visit? Who are the major officials in his company?

A: As the special representative of President Hu Jintao, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan left Beijing in late morning yesterday for working visits to the US and Russia. The main task of his visit is to exchange views with the US and Russia on the current situation of Korean Peninsula. Officials in his company include Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei and some officials at director-general level from the Foreign Ministry.

Q: Does the Chinese Government plan to dispatch a special envoy to the DPRK? When will the envoy start off?

A: China has a number of channels to exchange views with the other five parties to the Six-Parties Talks on the situation of the Korean Peninsula. Special envoy is only one of them. We will continue our exchange in an appropriate approach or in the form agreed by other parties. Our main purpose is to pull the parties concerned back to the table of the Six-Party Talks and seek peaceful solution of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through consultation and dialogue.

Q: At last regular press conference, you said that "punishment" should not be used to describe the measure taken by the UN in response to the DPRK's nuclear test. However, Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN Wang Guangya said the UN should take "punitive" action on the DPRK. Does this indicate any change in China's position?

A: China has not changed its position. The position of the Chinese Government has been consistent. Punishment is not the purpose. We should take effective, appropriate and well-measured step to make all parties aware that the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula serves the interest of all. All parties should hold a correct position pm such a major issue, return to the negotiation table, avoid any action that may worsen the situation, so as to peacefully solve the nuclear issue on the Peninsula through consultation and dialogue. This is our firm position as well as our proposition.

Q: Did President Hu Jintao issue any statement on the DPRK's nuclear test as head of state? We saw the statements of other heads of state, whereas President Hu did not. Why? In addition, what is the highest level of contact between China and the DPRK after the nuclear test?

A: Regarding your first question, the statement of Chinese Foreign Ministry has given a thorough and complete account of the position of the Chinese Government on the latest situation of the Korean Peninsula.

On your second question, China exchanged views with the DPRK, other parties to the Six-Party Talks and the parties outside the Talks, such as the EU and Canada. All the parties expressed their views on the situation of the Korean Peninsula.

Follow-up: What level of official on earth did China hold talks with?

I know that you have close interest in this matter. But I am very sorry to tell you that I have nothing to share with you so far.

Q: The UN Security Council is likely to invoke Chapter 7 of the UN Charter to impose sanction on the DPRK. What's China's position on this? What condition do you set?

A: Now, China and the parties concerned in the Security Council are making consultation on the well-measured action and resolution to be adopted by the UN. We hope that the consultation will be helpful to diplomatic effort and the peaceful solution of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through consultation and dialogue. The consultation is still ongoing. China will continue discussion with other parties concerned on the relevant issues with an active and responsible attitude.

As to what measures to be taken, including the specific question of invoking Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, we have to analyze the proposals on the basis of the criteria that whether the measure or action is conducive to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the peace and stability of Northeast Asia and the peaceful solution of the nuclear issue on the Peninsula through consultation and dialogue. The scheme under discussion is a comprehensive and complex one. It is hard for me to make comment on a particular article.

Q: China has close economic ties with the DPRK and provided them with economic and humanitarian aids. Will China cut off or restrain such ties?

A: China is committed to developing China-DPRK good-neighborly relations and friendly cooperation. The people in the two countries share profound friendship. For a long period, China has provided with the DPRK with economic assistance within its capacity. The main purpose is to help the DPRK people to improve livelihood. This has been a policy long upheld by the Chinese Government, because it helps improve the living conditions of the DPRK people.

Q: The Japanese Government has decided to unilaterally impose on the DPRK sanction harsher than the draft resolution of the Security Council. What's China's comment? China has been opposed to sanction on the DPRK. Have changed the position?

A: What policy to be taken by Japan should be considered and decided by the Japanese Government. China's position on the situation of the Korean Peninsula is very clear. We hope that all parties should respond to the current situation in a cool-headed way and all measures to be taken should promote the peaceful solution of the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and consultation.

Q: What actions is appropriate according the Chinese government? ROK President Roh Moo-hyun will start his official visit to China, can you tell us the purpose of this visit and who he will hold talks with?

A: China supports the U.N Security Council in taking appropriate action on the current situation on the Korea Peninsula. The parties concerned are discussing on what actions to take and a number of proposals have been put forward. We are making active consultation with other parties.

ROK President Roh Moo-hyun will kick off his working visit to China tomorrow. During his visit, he will meet and hold talks with President Hu Jintao, Chairman Wu Bangguo of the NPC standing committee and Primier Wen Jiabao. The leaders of the two countries will focus their talks on two important issues-China-ROK relations and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. We believe this visit will be helpful to boost the comprehensive cooperative partnership between China and the ROK.

Q: Has China detected nuclear radioactivity generated by the DPRK's nuclear test?

A: I briefed you at last press conference. So far, we have not detected any radioactive impact on China.

Q: It is commented that the sanctions imposed on the DPRC would not be must effective without China's involvement. What's your comment? Another question. It is reported that the APEC Economic Leaders' Meetings will be held in Vietnam. Some Taiwan officials claimed that Vietnam didn't send envoy to Taiwan to present the invitation letter, due to the pressure from the Chinese government. Please confirm.

A: As to your first question, I have reiterated on many occasions China's position on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and the DPRK's nu