SWB
FE/6240/C1/1 (A1, A2, A3, B)
C.1 CHINESE PREMIER'S PRESS CONFERENCE
9 Oct 79
See
c1/3
Hua Guofeng's Press Conference of 7th October
NCNA in English 2130 gmt 7 Oct 79
Text of "the questions and answers at the press conference given by Premier Hua Guofeng here this afternoon [7th October] for journalists from the four West European countries he is scheduled to visit and Chinese journalists":
Alain Jacob of the French paper 'Le Monde' asked: China has just started negotiations with the USSR. A short while ago, Vice-Premier Li Xiannian said that you hoped the negotiations would help improve relations between the two countries despite the difficulties. I want to know what concrete results China expects from these negotiations.
[A] China proposed to have negotiations with the USSR at the time when we announced that we would not renew the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance. It was China's hope that through the negotiations the outstanding issues between the two countries could be settled and the obstacles in the way of their relations be removed. China earnestly wishes to solve these problems and improve bilateral relations on the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence. But the outcome of these negotiations would depend on whether the USSR is earnest in the negotiations. It is still too early to say what the outcome would be.
Jean Pierre Elkabbach of the French television II asked: The general public in Western Europe is concerned about the arrest of some young political dissidents. When they were arrested, your government promised to practise democracy and the legal system. It is six months now since these people were arrested but no trial has been held yet. Are you going to hold trials and how far will you go in practising democracy?
[A] After overthrowing the gang of four, we have been stressing the extension of socialist democracy and the strengthening of our legal system. I said this clearly in my report to the second session of the Fifth National People's Congress. Our democracy is socialist democracy. It is the most extensive democracy, because in our country the people are the masters of their own affairs. We are working steadily to institutionalize our democracy and perfect our legal system. But we want our friends to know that we oppose anarchism and the use of democracy for the purpose of infringing upon the rights of other people. If we do not oppose anarchism and oppose anyone slandering and libelling others at will on the pretext of freedom, social disorder will result. This is detrimental to the interest of the people and so we are against it. [The NCNA's Chinese service (0105 gmt 8 Oct 79) here added the sentence: Therefore, it has been laid down in our law that those who slander and libel others are subject to punishment.] Only in this way can we ensure that the great majority of the people enjoy democracy. I think you will understand this. Infractions of the law will be dealt with according to law.
Gerard Sant-Paul of the French television I asked: France ranked fourth among China's trading partners five yars ago; now it ranks tenth. What do you think are the obstacles impeding the development of trade between the two countries?
[A] It has been 15 years since diplomatic relations were established between China and France in 1964. Thanks to efforts on both sides, the political, economic, scientific and cultural relations have been good between them. Trade between the two countries, too, has increased, but it fluctuates sometimes. I think that with greater understanding and co-operation, the prospects are extensive for developing trade. You said that France used to rank fourth five years ago as China's trading partner and now she ranks tenth. I have not looked into the exact figures, but in absolute terms the volume of
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