Q: During the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September, how many Chinese were killed or injured? What kind of assistance or measures has the Chinese Government adopted?
A: On the evening of 11 September, New York and Washington came under severe attacks, leading to huge casualties. After the incident occurred, the Chinese Embassy in the United States, the Consulate General in New York, China’s Permanent Mission to the UN and the Consular Department of the Foreign Ministry of China immediately adopted emergency measures and tried every effort to provide assistance to overseas Chinese, compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, members of the Chinese companies, Chinese students and their families in the United States.
After the incident, China’s Embassy and Consulate Generals tried their best to get in contact with the members of the Chinese companies in the World Trade Centre. They also got in touch with the American Airlines to learn the situation of Chinese passengers. To facilitate family members to learn about the situation of their relatives in the United States, China’s Embassy, Consulate Generals in the United States and the Consular Department of the Foreign Ministry of China have offered around-the-clock services and publicized emergency hotline numbers on their websites and the press, in order to provide all necessary help and protection. China’s Embassy and Consulate Generals have also sent people to visit members of the Chinese companies, the Chinese delegations in the United States and representatives of Chinese students to convey greetings of Chinese leaders and express profound sympathy and warm greetings to all the injured and the family members of the deceased. China’s Consulate General in Chicago also timely provided necessary assistance to 145 Chinese citizens in Detroit who were stranded there due to flight delays.
According to the latest information at 8:00 am, 13 September, it has been verified that two Chinese citizens unfortunately lost their lives during the terrorist attacks, namely Mr. Zheng Yuguang (aged 65) and Mrs. Yang Shuyin (aged 61), who were both passengers on board the AA77 flight. Besides, Mr. Chen Xiaobing (aged 32) is reported dead by his family. Mr. Wang Weibin (aged 41) is missing.
It is learned that there are 18 Chinese companies in the NY World Trade Centre. It has been confirmed that all members of 11 Chinese companies are safe, a member of a company is injured and a family member of a staff of a company is missing after the evacuation. We have not been able to reach the remaining five Chinese companies. Besides, there are 6 Chinese financial institutions in neighbouring areas of the World Trade Centre. All of their staff is reported safe.
At the moment, China’s Embassy and Consulate Generals in the United States are trying to get in touch with members of the remaining Chinese companies.

Q: According to press reports, during his telephone conversation with President Bush, President Jiang indicated that China is ready to help the United States in the fight against terrorism. Could you please give us some more information? What kind of specific measures will China adopt to assist the United States?
A: Last night, President Jiang had a phone conversation with US President Bush. Maybe you have read the relevant reports. Here I would like to give you some more details.
President Bush thanked President Jiang for his recent telegram of sympathy and condolences on the terrorist violent attacks on the United States. President Bush pointed out that international terrorism is a threat to world peace. He is looking forward to working closer with President Jiang and other leaders of the international community in the common fight against international terrorism. And he hopes that the United States and China enhance their cooperation in this field at the UN Security Council.
President Jiang said that the attacks have not only brought about a disaster to the American people, but also a challenge to the sincere desire for peace of the world people. The Chinese people, like the Americans, strongly condemn the appalling terrorist attacks.
On behalf of the Chinese Government and people, President Jiang reiterated the deep sympathy to the US Government, people and families of the victims, and profound condolences to the deceased. He said that China has closely followed the progress of the rescue work. We are ready to provide all necessary support and assistance to the US side. President Jiang voiced his belief that under the leadership of President Bush, the American people would overcome the current difficulties, well handle the rehabilitation work and restore the social and living order as soon as possible.
President Jiang said that China is ready to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with the United States and the international community in the joint efforts in combating all sorts of terrorist violence. President Jiang also hoped that foreign ministers and the permanent missions to the United Nations of the two countries would strengthen their consultation and cooperation.
On the question that you have just mentioned, it will be dealt with through bilateral consultations. China and the United States have maintained close contacts with each other in this field.
In addition, I would like to inform you that the Executive Deputy Chairman of the Red Cross of China sent a telegram to his US counterpart on 12 September to express most sincere sympathy and best wishes to all the victims and their families. He also indicated that China's Red Cross is ready to help in whatever way it could in the rescue efforts of the US Red Cross.

Q: The APEC Leaders Meeting will be held next month in Shanghai. I wish to know if the attacks on the United States will adversely affect the meeting?
A: At least I could not see, nor have I heard of any adverse effect on the APEC Meeting in Shanghai. At the moment, all the preparation work is going on.

Q: Does China believe that the US planned missile defence system is even more useless after this attack?
A: Our stand against international terrorism is consistent and clear-cut. On the missile defence question, our position is also clear-cut, without any change.

Q: If the US is taking action without consulting countries outside NATO, is China against it? Is NATO the right forum to discuss any retaliation actions by the United States or does China wish to see discussions in the Untied Nations?
A: In the phone conversation with President Bush, President Jiang has already elaborated on our position. We are ready to strengthen our dialogue and cooperation with the United States and the international community in the common fight against all types of terrorist violence. President Jiang and President Bush also called for enhanced consultations and cooperation between the two foreign ministers and the two UN missions.

Q: I wish to know if there are any casualties from Hong Kong according to your information on the Chinese citizens. If Hong Kong citizens in the Untied States need help, where should they go for?
A: I have mentioned in my previous statements that President Jiang, other Chinese leaders and the Chinese Government greatly care for the situation of Chinese diplomats at the Chinese Embassy and Consulate Generals, staff of Chinese companies, overseas Chinese, Chinese students and our compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan in the United States. They have instructed China's Embassy, Consulate Generals and Permanent Mission to the UN to adopt all measures to provide every assistance to our compatriots who may be injured. I have also informed you that the Chinese Embassy, Consulate Generals and the Consular Department of the Foreign Ministry have publicised their hotline numbers. If there are any clues, if any help is needed, please get directly in touch with the relevant departments. The departments will go all out to help in accordance with the Government's instructions.
There is no one from Hong Kong on the list of Chinese casualties that I just mentioned.  

Q: It is learned that the originally planned meeting in Geneva of the Working Party on China's entry into the WTO has been postponed due to the attacks on the United States. Will the development affect China's entry into the WTO?
A: Due to the terrorist violent attacks in the United States, there are some changes to the programme and arrangement of the 18th Meeting of the Working Party on China's entry into the WTO. This is only an adjustment of the programme and arrangement.

Q: You just mentioned that China would strengthen its cooperation with the United States in the fight against terrorism. I wish to know if the nature of such cooperation differs from the anti-terrorist measures under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization?
A: In their phone conversation, leaders of China and the United States expressed their readyness to enhance dialogue and cooperation in the common fight against all types of terrorist violence. We will also maintain contact and consultation between the two foreign ministries and the UN missions.
On the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, I can give you a brief introduction. In recent years, terrorist, splitist and extremist forces in Central Asia have colluded with each other. Their rampant activities have seriously undermined security and stability of the region. China has closely followed the security situation of Central Asia. We stand for severe measures against the "three forces". Not long ago, members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization jointly signed in Shanghai the Shanghai Convention on the Combating down of the "Three Forces", laying down an important legal basis for the cooperation between China and the Central Asian countries in the fight against the "three forces". This shows the joint determination of the countries of the region to crack down on the "three forces". The relevant parties will establish a regional Anti-Terrorism Centre in Bishkek to carry out concrete cooperation in this field. Other further measures will also be adopted. China is also actively exploring ways of bilateral cooperation with the Central Asian countries.
China is willing to carry out the fight against terrorism and the "three forces" with the international community at the United Nations and within the bilateral and regional frameworks.

Q: I wonder if you could clarify China's position towards the Taliban regime. Are there any official or unofficial contacts with the Taliban? Have any Chinese trade delegations visited Afghanistan recently?
A: China and Afghanistan are friendly neighbours. Traditional friendship between the two peoples could be dated back long in history. However, the civil war in Afghanistan has affected the normal ties between the two countries. China's embassy in Afghanistan was closed in February 1993 due to safety reasons. China has some contacts with the main parties in Afghanistan, including the Taliban. The Chinese Government and people sincerely hope to see an early end of the civil war in Afghanistan and the early restoration of normal ties between our two countries. Our contacts with relevant parties in Afghanistan is purely to urge them to go in for peace. We do not interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan. On the question of trade and economic contact between China and Afghanistan, as far as I know, China has no businessmen in Afghanistan.

Q: Premier Zhu has concluded his visit to Russia. How do you comment on the results of the visit?
A: From 7 to 12 September, Premier Zhu paid an official visit to Russia and attended the sixth round of prime ministerial meeting. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on ways to expand and deepen mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, trade, scientific and technological, culture and other fields. The two also exchanged views on missile defence, Afghanistan, Iraq and other major international and regional issues of common concern. Wide ranging consensus was reached. The two sides spoke highly of the major historical significance of the Sino-Russian Treaty of Good-Neighhourliness, Friendship and Cooperation, which was signed by the two presidents. They believed that the task of the prime ministerial meeting is to implement the principles and spirits of the Treaty and the other agreements that are reached by the two presidents. The two sides also signed seven documents, including the joint statement of the 6th round of the regular prime ministerial meeting, the agreement on China's purchase of Russian-made Tu-204 aircrafts and the document on the cooperation on the oil pipelines. The visit is a crowning success.

Q: Foreign Minister Tang is scheduled for a visit to the United States. Will the attacks on the United States affect his trip to the States?
A: As far as I know, the program and the arrangement for Foreign Minister Tang's visit to the United States and participation in the UN General Assembly Meeting have not been finalized yet. China has been in consultations with the US and other relevant countries.

Q: What's China's attitude towards Osama bin Laden and his radical Islamic group? Whether there have been any contact with him and his group in the past or at the present?
A: We do not know bin Laden. The Chinese Government condemns and opposes all sorts of terrorism. This position is resolute and clear-cut.

Q: You just mentioned that the six Prime Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization would announce the establishment of an Anti-Terrorism Centre. Will China provide some intelligence to the United States to help it crack down on terrorism through the Shanghai Cooperation Organization?
A: The establishment of the Anti-Terrorism Centre is one of the principled consensus of the six leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the common struggle against the "three forces". It is a correct choice by the six nations to safeguard regional security and stability. The matter is under active consultations at the moment. We hold that it is of major significance for the law enforcement agencies of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to enhance their cooperation so as to safeguard regional security and stability. The Centre is yet to be established. The cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is something within its member states.
As I mentioned just now, President Jiang indicated to President Bush in the phone conversation, that we are ready to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with the United States and the international community to crack down on all sorts of terrorist violence. We have been in close contact with each other in this field.

Q: In the case that the US would retaliate against Afghanistan without consultation with China and other countries, would China lodge a formal protest?
A: You have raised a hypothetical question. I would answer it this way: In the current situation, it is of utmost necessity and urgency to conduct international cooperation against terrorism. We are ready to make joint efforts with parties concerned to carry out anti-terrorism activities on the basis of the UN Charter.

Q: After the attacks on the United States, is China thinking of possible attacks on itself? Is China well prepared?
A: The Chinese Government is determined and capable of fighting resolutely against all sorts of terrorism in order to safeguard its national interests and the peace and security of the international community.

Q: We have seen that security has been strengthened around US Embassy. What other lessons has China learned from these attacks? What other measures will China adopt, including the security checks at the airports?
A: I can tell you that on the same night of the attacks, the Foreign Ministry of China immediately asked the Foreign Affairs Offices of the relevant localities to strengthen the security protection of the US Embassy and Consulate Generals. The relevant localities have all adopted effective measures to protect the US premises and staff. Later, the Foreign Ministry once again issued a notice to all the Foreign Affairs Offices in the country, asking them to strengthen the security protection of all foreign nationals, including US citizens, and their institutions.
On your question, I believe that this is not only a diplomatic issue, but also an issue of wider implications. Not only China, but also other countries of the world will draw lessons from the event.