What are your comments on opening of the Qinhai---Tibet railway? Will this railway do any harm to the ecological system of Tibet?

   Opening of the Qinhai-Tibet railway is an important achievement of Western Development Strategy of Chinese government. It will promote economic and social development of Qinhai Province and Tibet Autonomous Region, improve the living standard of  local people including Tibtan people and contribute to achieve common prosperity of all peoples in China. The railway has received welcome and support from broad masses including Tibetan people. It will do no harm to the interests of India, but promote China-India friendship and cooperation.

   I should point out that the Qinhai-Tibet railway is a world  leading ecologically and environmentally friendly railway. China has earmarked $140 million for environmental protection projects along the railway. After many efforts, the railway has barely affected the water quality of rivers and the area of frozen soil, done no harm to the migrating route of wild animals and the surrounding natural landscape, and the swamps and wetlands have been effectively protected. I hope you will seek opportunities to go to China, acquire personal experience from this "green corridor", and witness with your own eyes the great changes that will take place in Tibet and Tibetan people's life.

What are your comments on the reopening of Nathula border trade markets?

I feel very happy to see that with the joint efforts of  China  and India, Nathula trade markets will be formally reopened and so will be the border trade pass. This is a major event for China-India relationship as well as an important program of China-India Friendship Year. I would like to extend my cordial greetings. Nathula border trade markets will not only benefit border inhabitants in both countries, and promote local openness and development, but also further motivate and open up a new channel for the blooming China-India trade relations. I believe that with time passing by, Nathula trade markets will thrive and become the bond of China-India friendship, cooperation and common prosperity.

China and India  will open a Nathula border trade pass,  what is your comment?

In 2003, Chinese and Indian governments signed the Memory of Understanding on the Expansion of Border Trade, agreeing to open border markets through Nathula Pass. Recently, a delegation from the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry visited China's Tibet Autonomous Region and discussed the specifics with relevant authorities of China. Accordingly, border trade through the Nathula Pass will be opened on July 6. We believe that it will further promote the economic and trade cooperation and the development of the bilateral relations.

During Indian President Mr. Kalam's visit to Singapore, he claimed that the wound of the war in 1962 has been healed and India would like to see the rise of both China & India at the same time. What's your comment?

We have noticed the remarks by H.E. Mr. Kalam, President of India and appreciate it.

With entering a new century, China-India relations have seen remarkable progress. In 2005, our two countries established the Strategic Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity, which marks a new era of bilateral relationship. Economic and trade relations are developing smoothly. China has become the third largest trade partner of India. According to statistics of Chinese Customs Head Office, bilateral trade reached $18.7 billion in 2005 and it is expected to reach 20 billion in 2006. Interactions between Indian and Chinese people are increasingly growing. Both sides actively cooperate in science and technology, education, culture and other fields.

It is an important part of Chinese foreign policy to develop a good neighborly friendship and cooperation with India. China is willing to work with India to seize current opportunities to continuously improve mutual trust, expand all-round cooperation, strengthen consultation and cooperation in international affairs, properly handle issues left by history such as boundary question, and continue to push for sustainable, stable and sound development of China-India strategic partnership.

What is the significance of the Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the China-India Boundary Question?

Last April, during Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India, the two sides signed the Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the China-India Boundary Question. This is a major achievement after the establishment of the Special Representative mechanism on boundary question. It serves the interests of both peoples and marks an important step towards the final settlement of the long-standing boundary question. Both sides affirm to seek package resolution by peaceful means and in the spirit of mutual understanding and respect. The Special Representatives of the two countries will continue to talk and hold consultations so as to achieve an early resolution.

India has been adopted as observer state of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Will China support India to be a full member?

Consistently following a opening  up principle, SCO has clearly expressed its anticipation to make joint efforts with the concerned countries and organizations in the region, safeguard regional peace and stability and achieve common development. India is an important member in this region. We welcome it to play an active role in SCO.

How is China and India's cooperation in energy field?

Both China and India are two big energy consumers. It is not only necessary for the two countries to coordinate and cooperate in this field but conducive to the enrichment of the China-India strategic partnership. Energy enterprises from China and India have achieved good examples in overseas cooperation. China National Petroleum Corporation and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation in India have developed cooperation in Sudan for 3 years. At the end of last year, these two companies jointly won the bid for the 38% stake of Petrol-Canada in Syrian oilfields. In this January, H.E. Mr. Aiyar, then Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, paid a successful visit to China and held discussions with his Chinese counterpart. The two sides signed a MOU on strengthening the cooperation in the field of oil and natural gas. China hopes to strengthen friendly cooperation with India on the basis of mutual benefit in energy field, so as to achieve common development and prosperity.

It is reported that China-India Border Trade at Nathula will be open in this June, is it true? How is the preparation going?

China takes a positive attitude towards the expansion of border trade with India. In 2003, China and India signed a Memorandum on Opening Border Trade at Nathula. Relevant departments from both sides have already held substantive discussions on the implementation of the Memorandum. Now, China is earnestly planning and building border trade market. We are trying our best to open the border trade at Nathula within this year.

It is reported that China is building roads and other infrastructure facilities in China-India border area. The Qinhai---Tibet railway will also be completed this year.  Will this do any harm to Indian interests?

To improve the infrastructure in the west part of China, including the construction of roads and railways is a part of Western Development Strategy of Chinese government, aimed at promoting an overall and coordinated development in the fields of economy, society and environment through financial, technical and human resource investment, and improving the living standard of the local people. China and India are not only good neighbors but also strategic cooperative partners. The improvement of the infrastructure in the west of China will only facilitate the friendly exchanges and cooperation between our two countries. There will be no possible harm to India.

About the Indian Defense Minister's visit here, can you tell us more about the agreement signed yesterday? Historically, China and India are not always friends. Why is it necessary now to sign the defense cooperation agreement?

Indian Defense Minister Mukherjee is here for a visit from May 28 to June 2. During his stay here, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, State Councilor and Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan met with him. Both sides positively evaluate the sound momentum of development of bilateral ties in recent years, stressing that military exchanges are important part of the overall bilateral relationship. The enhancement of military exchanges and mutual trust is of significance for the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. The agreement you asked is an MOU on strengthening defence exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. You asked about the reason to sign the MOU and said that China and India are not always friends. What I would like to tell you is that China and India enjoy a more than 2000 years' history of exchanges and interactions. In most part of the history, the two countries are friendly to each other, making great contribution to human civilization. There was only a short period of time when bilateral relations were cold. Both countries have decided to be forward-looking and work together to develop the strategic partnership. The signing of the MOU is a natural outcome of the development of bilateral ties and military exchanges. We deem it as beneficial. In the mean time, I would like to assure you that China has signed similar MOU with many other countries, which is not targeted against any third party.