The Chinese foreign minister reiterated that China has never and will not recognize the so-called "median line", and that the sovereign rights of the Chunxiao oil and gas field belong to China. Yunfeng has the details.

At a press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi answered media questions on East China Sea issue on Tuesday.

When asked about what's the purpose of China to reach consensus with Japan on East China Sea issue and What benefits could China gain from this, Yang Jiechi reiterated the understanding inked between China and Japan on East China Sea issue through consultation is a key step to implement the major consensus reached by leaders of both countries in an effort to make the East China Sea a place of peace, cooperation and friendship. The outcome is mutually beneficial and in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples.

When asked about the comment of a senior Japanese official's saying recently that Japan has not recognized China's sovereign rights over Chunxiao oil and gas field.

Yang made two points. First, it is with no doubt that the sovereign rights of Chunxiao oil and gas field belong to China; secondly, both China and Japan have agreed that Japanese enterprises would participate in the relevant cooperation in Chunxiao oil and gas field in accordance with the Chinese laws governing the external cooperation on offshore oil resources development and accept Chinese jurisdiction. This fully embodies that China has the sovereign rights over Chunxiao oil and gas field.

Yang further explained why China allows Japanese companies to join the development of Chunxiao oil and gas field.

He elaborated that absorption of foreign capitals in participating through cooperation in tapping offshore oil and gas resources is a common practice that complies with the Chinese laws and the international practice. Relevant Chinese companies have already undertaken cooperation with Unocal, Shell and other foreign companies in Chunxiao oil and gas field.

The Chinese companies concerned allow the Japanese enterprises to participate in the development of Chunxiao oil and gas field in accordance with the Chinese laws, the nature of which are the same as the cooperation with Unocal and Shell and bear no special meaning.

The top diplomat stressed that it is just for that reason that such development through cooperation is under Chinese jurisdiction and is led by the Chinese companies.

However, some Japanese officials said recently that whether the development of Chunxiao oil and gas field should be called the joint development depends on the definition of joint development, and it is not important to call it "joint development" or not.

Yang Jiechi made such a comment. He said the development through cooperation is totally different from the joint development. Joint development is a transitional arrangement which is not valid under laws of any party involved. What the Chinese and Japanese companies will do in the Chunxiao oil and gas field is the development through cooperation, an act that will be done in accordance with Chinese laws.

And the Chinese foreign minister reiterated that China has never and will not recognize the so-called "median line" as advocated by Japan on the East China sea delimitation. China upholds the principle of natural prolongation to solve the delimitation issue of East China Sea continental shelf. The ultimate delimitation of East China Sea will be solved through negotiations between China and Japan.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi pointed out that the principled consensus reached by China and Japan on joint development is a transitional measure, or a temporary arrangement. It will not affect China's sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the East China Sea.

Yunfeng, CRI news.