On May 24, 2010, spokesman of the strategic dialogue and Director-General of the Information Department of the Foreign Ministry Ma Zhaoxu held a briefing for the media on the second round of large-scale meeting.

Ma: The theme of the second round of large-scale meeting of the strategic dialogue is how to strengthen cooperation on major international, regional and global issues and how to advance cooperation on the international system reform and the regional cooperation mechanism of Asia and the Pacific. China-US relations today have transcended the bilateral boundary and enjoy ever increasing global significance. During the large-scale meeting, the two sides exchanged views on the international, regional and global issues of common concern in a deep and sincere manner. It should be said that the exchange helps both sides better understand each other’s position and policy on certain issues and boost the bilateral cooperation in relevant areas.

During this round of meeting, the Chinese side stressed that both China and the US need world peace, stability and development, hope to peacefully solve various issues through dialogue and negotiations and work hard to cope with the increasingly complex global challenges. It should be said that the two countries hold important common strategic interest in international affairs and enjoy wide cooperation. Both sides are thinking about and exploring the issue that how China and the US, as two major powers in the world, could engage in wider, deeper and more fruitful coordination and cooperation on the international, regional and global issues in the future.

As a key strategic platform, the SED provides a very useful channel for both sides to discuss a series of issues. To sum up, the Chinese side mainly considers the following five points on how to strengthen cooperation:

First, deepen existing cooperation; continue with communications and coordination on the hot-spot issues concerning each other’s core interest including the Iranian and Korean Peninsular nuclear issues and strengthen consultations and cooperation on anti-terrorism, non-proliferation and cracking down on cross-nation crimes.

Second, fully respect and take care of each other’s major interest and concerns in the process of cooperation.

Third, follow the accepted norms of international relations and peacefully solve regional hot-spot issues through dialogue and negotiations.

Fourth, face conflicts and differences objectively and calmly in the process of cooperation and prevent negative impact of temporary difficulties on the overall situation of China-US cooperation.

Fifth, cultivate new cooperation points and expand communications and coordination on climate change and energy security so as to benefit both countries and the international community as well.

That is a brief introduction of the dialogue. I wonder that summary is accurate or not. Now you may ask me specific questions.

Dragon TV reporter: What is the attitude and response of the US side towards the Korean Tian An incident? How about the discussions between China and the US on the future situation of Northeast Asia? Thank you.

Ma: I have answered the first question at last briefing.

As to the second question, the Chinese side is always committed to maintaining peace and stability in Northeast Asia and on the Korean Peninsula and makes joint efforts with all parties concerned to resume the six-party talks and the denuclearization process on the Peninsula. We hope all the related parties stay calm, exercise restraint, properly handle relevant issues and prevent the escalation of tensions in order to maintain peace and stability on the Peninsula. I want to especially stress that peace and stability on the Peninsula serve the fundamental interest of all parties.

Reporter: Does the dialogue cover military exchanges? When will the two sides comprehensively re-launch the military exchanges? Is there any new exchange or cooperation plan mentioned in the dialogue?

Ma: Military relationship is covered in the first round of large-scale meeting during which the Chinese military representative specially stressed that the Chinese side always attaches importance to the unremitting bilateral cooperation in the military field and is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperation with the US side following the principle of respect, mutual trust, equality and reciprocity. The Chinese side also emphasized that to respect each other’s core interest is the precondition of developing the healthy and stable military relations.

Bloomberg News reporter: I also have a question on the military exchanges. Earlier this year, the bilateral military exchanges suspended because the US sold weapons to Taiwan and China once said it would impose sanctions on the US companies involved in selling arms to Taiwan. Has this issue been solved or not? Whether related or other measures have been taken against those companies? Whether the bilateral military relations which were impacted have been resumed?

Ma: I have repeatedly stressed that this is the strategic and economic dialogue between China and the US. The two sides exchange views on some long-term, strategic issues and issues of overall importance at the strategic level. It can also be said as the communications and exchanges of thoughts. The two sides have many specific exchange and consultation mechanisms under which they share opinions on the specific issues of common concern.

Xinhua News Agency reporter: I have two questions. First, does this round of strategic dialogue cover the topic of network security? Second, does it involve the issue of taking a fresh look at each other?

Ma: First, the issue of how to look at each other has been a major topic of China-US SED from the very beginning. According to my experience of attending all previous strategic dialogues, I feel that the most important issue to be addressed by the SED is to how to look at each other. Through many rounds of dialogue, it should be said that the mutual understanding and trust are increasing continuously. Dialogue helps both sides raise mutual understanding and define correct positions. The position of China-US relations at present is clear. The two heads of state have reached consensus on the position which is to build the positive, cooperative and all-round China-US relations in the 21st century.

As to the first question, the two sides can exchange views on any issue of common concern during the strategic dialogue. It should be said that network security is a global issue. China and the US hold extensive common interest on this issue and therefore need to have exchanges.

Thank you.