On June 11, Vice Premier of the State Council Sun Chunlan will attend upon invitation the opening ceremony of the Global Health Forum of the Boao Forum for Asia in Qingdao, Shandong Province and deliver a keynote speech.

Q: Can you confirm if the Chinese ambassador to Canada is going to be replaced? Can you tell us where he is going and who the new Chinese ambassador to Canada will be?

A: The appointment and removal of Chinese ambassadors need to go through certain procedures. As to your question, I have nothing to offer at the moment.

Q: A DPRK foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement on June 4 that the US has deliberately avoided implementing the joint statement reached in Singapore and insisted on the DPRK's unilateral denuclearization. Whether the joint statement will turn out to be a mere blank sheet of paper depends entirely on how the US responds to the DPRK's position. What's your comment?

A: In June last year, the DPRK and US leaders held a historic meeting and released a joint statement, bringing the Peninsula issue onto the right track of dialogue and consultation, which is in line with the historical trend and people's aspiration. Now the peace talks are at a critical stage. We hope the two sides will stay committed and patient and show flexibility. They need to meet each other halfway, continue to act on standing consensus, accommodate each other's legitimate concerns and work for progress towards a political settlement. China will continue to work with the rest of the international community towards this end.

Q: There are reports that China plans to nominate Tsang Wai-hung, deputy director of China's Narcotics Control Commission and former commissioner of the Hong Kong Police Force, for the position of executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. Can you confirm and comment on that?

A: The Chinese government has nominated Tsang Wai-hung, deputy director of the China National Narcotics Control Commission, for the position of director-general of the UN Office at Vienna and executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. This is China's concrete action in support of multilateralism and work of the UN. We will devote more efforts to fighting transnational organized crime and strengthening international counter-narcotic cooperation.

Q: The number of protesters killed by military force in Sudan has risen to 60. At the same time China has blocked a bid at the UN Security Council to condemn the violence. Can China tell us why it has blocked the bid?

A: I commented on the latest development in Sudan yesterday. I would like to reiterate that China has been closely following the situation. We hope Sudan can maintain stability, smoothly carry out the political transition and get onto the normal track of development as soon as possible. In the meantime, China believes that the international community should respect Sudanese people's independent choice and adhere to the principle of non-interference in others' domestic affairs.

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According to the public holiday schedule for the coming dragon-boat festival, the MFA press conference will be adjourned on Friday, June 7 and resumed on Monday, June 10. In the meantime, you may call or fax the spokesperson's office with your questions as usual.