On June 5, 2012, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Weimin held a press conference.

Liu Weimin started the press conference with the following announcement.

At the invitation of Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar will pay an official visit to China from June 9 to 14. During the visit, Chinese leaders will meet with him and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will hold talks with him. The two sides will exchange views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common interest. Besides Beijing, Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin will also visit Shanghai.

Q: The 12th Meeting of the Heads of State Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be held in Beijing tomorrow. Please brief us on the agenda and China's expectations of the Meeting.

A: At the invitation of President Hu Jintao, presidents of the other five SCO member states Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, presidents or representatives of the observer states Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan and India and the host country's guests of honor Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, as well as leading officials of the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Eurasian Economic Community and the Collective Security Treaty Organization will attend the Summit. There will be a large group meeting and a small group meeting of the member states, signing ceremonies of cooperation documents, a joint meeting with the press, a business forum and an art performance during the Summit. Chinese and foreign leaders will also hold a host of bilateral meetings.

At the Summit, the heads of member states will have in-depth exchange of views on topics such as the current international and regional situation, measures to deepen friendly cooperation among the member states and the future development of the SCO, and make strategic planning. China expects the Meeting to reach major outcomes in the following areas. First, in the political field, the Summit will issue a declaration on building a region of lasting peace and common prosperity, set the long-term goal of building the SCO region into a region of harmony and elaborate on the member states' common position on major international and region issues. The heads of member states will adopt the Strategic Plan for the Medium-Term Development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and identify the priority areas of future cooperation and relevant implementation measures. Second, in the security field, the heads of member states will adopt the amendments to the 2009 SCO Regulations on Political and Diplomatic Measures and Mechanism of Response to Events Jeopardizing Regional Peace, Security and Stability, which will considerably boost the member states' ability of communication, coordination and joint response under the circumstances of crisis in a bid to maintain regional security more effectively. The heads of member states will also adopt the 2013-2015 Cooperation Program of the SCO Member States on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism and draw up specific cooperation measures and plans to effectively combat and curb activities of the "three forces" in the region. Third, in the economic field, member states are working hard to finalize the SCO Intergovernmental Agreement on the Facilitation of Road Transportation and continue discussions on introducing financing safeguards for SCO project cooperation and promoting the establishment of SCO special account and development bank. Fourth, in the field of cultural and people-to-people exchanges, member states are making technical preparations for the signing of the Protocol of the SCO Intergovernmental Agreement on Mutual Aid in Disaster Relief. Fifth, in the field of external relations, the Meeting will discuss the application by Afghanistan for observer status and the application by Turkey for dialogue partner, and a formal decision will be made on the basis of consensus through consultations.

Q: Please brief us on Russian President Putin's visit to China.

A: Information has been released about President Putin's state visit to China and a leading official of the Foreign Ministry has also held a press briefing about the visit recently. President Hu Jintao will hold talks with President Putin this afternoon. In addition, Chairman Wu Bangguo of the NPC Standing Committee, Premier Wen Jiaobao of the State Council and other Chinese leaders will meet with President Putin respectively.

At present, China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has shown a momentum of sound development. The two sides have agreed to make the development of relations with each other as one of their top diplomatic priorities, keep the continuity of the development of China-Russia relations, and jointly push forward China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination.

It is President Putin's first visit to China since taking office last May. The meeting between the two heads of state is of great significance to the development of China-Russia relations in the future. Leaders of the two countries will review the progress of bilateral relations and have in-depth exchange of views on the future development of bilateral relations with a view to promoting practical cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, energy, high-tech, innovation, cross-border infrastructure construction and local collaboration, in particular cooperation in major strategic projects, and elevate the scale and quality of their practical cooperation. The two sides will also exchange views on deepening cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, making a success the China-Russia Tourism Year, enhancing regular exchanges between the youth of the two countries, and strengthening the popular support for bilateral relations. As permanent members of the Security Council, China and Russia shoulder important responsibilities for international affairs. Leaders of the two countries will also communicate in an in-depth manner over major international and regional issues of common interest in order to jointly maintain and promote international and regional stability and development.

During the visit, the two heads of state will sign and issue the Joint Statement on Further Deepening China-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination. Competent authorities and companies of the two countries will sign a host of important cooperation documents. China believes that President Putin's visit will inject new impetus into the development of China-Russia relations.

Q: Will the heads of state of China and Russia discuss the Syrian issue? Will China's position on the issue change?

A: China's position on the Syrian issue is quite clear. First, all parties concerned in Syria should immediately cease violence and defuse tensions as soon as possible. Second, the process of political dialogue should be launched at an early date. Third, they should concretely implement relevant Security Council resolutions and firmly support Special Envoy Annan's mediation efforts.

On the Syrian issue, China and Russia, sharing similar positions, have maintained close communication and coordination on various occasions. Both sides are opposed to external armed intervention in Syria and pushing for the so-called "regime change". They share the view that the Syrian issue should be ultimately solved through negotiations by all parties in Syria sitting down around the negotiation table, which will be a most sustainable solution that serves the fundamental interests of the Syrian people. The situation in Syria is now at a critical juncture. China and Russia will continue to stay in communication and coordination on the issue to play a positive and constructive role for the easing of tensions and political resolution of the issue.