On the afternoon of May 26, 2011, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Jiang Yu held a regular press conference.

Q: President U Thein Sein of Myanmar starts his visit to China today. Would you please brief us on the arrangement and agenda of his visit?

A: President U Thein Sein of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar starts his state visit to China today. During his visit, President Hu Jintao will hold talks with him, Premier Wen Jiabao and Chairman Jia Qinglin of the National Committee of the CPPCC will meet with him respectively. The two sides will exchange views on deepening bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common interest and sign agreements on economic and technical cooperation and others.

China and Myanmar are neighbors boasting traditional friendship. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 61 years ago, the two countries have advanced unremittingly their good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, delivering tangible benefits to the two peoples. We hope this visit will give a boost to China-Myanmar good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation, advance bilateral relations and promote practical cooperation across the board.

Q: The Ministry of Defence released the information at its regular press conference yesterday that Defence Minister Liang Guanglie will leave for Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue. Would you please give us more details of the purpose and agenda of his visit?

A: The 10th Shangri-La Dialogue will be held in Singapore from June 3 to 5. The Ministry of Defence has released the information about State Councilor and Defence Minister Liang Guanglie's attendance at the Dialogue. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also send officials there.

China supports multi-tiered security dialogue and cooperation through various channels in the Asia-Pacific region and attaches great importance to the Shangri-La Dialogue, expecting it to enhance mutual understanding and mutual trust among all relevant parties. China stands ready to work along with other countries in the Asia-Pacific region to promote regional security cooperation as well as regional peace and stability.

Q: On the Second India-Africa Forum Summit held in Ethiopia recently, India pledged to offer $5 billion to Africa. It is said that China and India are competing with each other for bigger clout in Africa by enhancing their relations with African countries and increasing investment in Africa. What is China's comment?

A: We support all forms of South-South cooperation among developing countries. Leaders of China and India have expressed on many occasions that the two countries are cooperative partners rather than rivals.

It is always a good thing that the international community focuses on Africa. China develops its relations with Africa under the principle of sincere friendship, equal treatment, win-win cooperation and common development. Recent years have witnessed ever-expanding mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Africa, which drives forward international investment and cooperation in Africa as well as economic and social development of Africa, and thus is universally welcomed by African countries.

China adopts an open attitude towards the discussion between the international community and Africa on cooperation. We are of the view that the international community should fully respect the will of African countries and people when conducting cooperation with them, follow the principle of serving for peaceful development of Africa and help Africa realize the Millennium Development Goals at an early date.

Q: Leaders of the US, UK and other countries have reportedly made remarks on the situation of West Asia and North Africa. France, the host country of the G8 Summit convened today, also lists the situation of this region as a primary topic. What is China's opinion in this regard?

A: We follow closely the development of the situation in West Asia and North Africa. China respects and supports regional countries handling their internal affairs independently and believes that those countries and their people have the capacity and means to find development paths and state governance plans suited to their domestic conditions. We call on all parties to resolve disputes through political means in a peaceful manner. China urges the international community to support the efforts by the regional countries to restore political stability and create a favorable external environment for peace, stability and sustainable development of this region.

Q: US reportedly announced sanctions against three Chinese companies and relevant individuals, claiming they traded products and technologies with Iran and Syria that might be used to produce weapons of mass destruction and missiles. How do you comment?

A: China opposes the US imposing sanctions on Chinese entities by invoking its domestic law, which will be inconducive to bilateral non-proliferation cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

China has a complete non-proliferation export control regime. In case any Chinese entity or individual engages in illegal export activities, we will certainly handle it in accordance with law.

Q: What is China's position on India hoping to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group?

A: New membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group should be decided by all its members through consultation in accordance with its standards and accession procedures.

Q: Will China-Russia energy negotiations be held soon? Will the dispute between Chinese and Russian companies over oil prices affect bilateral energy cooperation?

A: The two sides are actively consulting on the 7th round of China-Russia Energy Negotiators Meeting.

China-Russia energy cooperation is mutually beneficial. As for the technical issue that arises from bilateral energy cooperation, the two governments have urged the companies to resolve it through active negotiations in the spirit of mutual understanding, accommodation and friendly consultation.

Q: Several countries have nominated candidates for IMF chief. How do you respond?

A: The selection of IMF managing director, deputy managing director and other management staff is part of governance restructuring of international financial institutions. Based upon consensus of G20 leaders, the selection of management of international financial institutions including the IMF should follow the principle of openness, transparency and merit and the representativeness of emerging markets should be increased to reflect the changes in the world economic architecture. China has noted that relevant countries nominated some candidates for IMF chief. We hope the parties will come to a decision through democratic consultation on the basis of the above principles.