************************************************************** IFCSS Headquarters News Release No. 5077 Nov 22, 1993 ************************************************************** Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars (IFCSS) 733 15th Street, N.W., Suite 440, Washington, D.C.20005 Tel. (202)347-0017 Fax: (202)347-0018 Email: ifcss@wam.umd.edu IFCSS Executive Director Questions China's Spokesman ==================================================== On November 18, IFCSS Executive Director Liu Xiaozhu questions Mr. Wu Jianmin, the spokesman of Chinese delegation to APEC. Unlike other delegations who had designated briefing rooms open to the public in the International Media Center, the Chinese news briefing was a closed event. It was conducted at the Shareton Hotel where the Chinese delegation stayed. Five policemen guarded the entrance of the hotel, and the ID was checked carefully before each one was allowed to enter. The high security profile was partly due to human rights groups who threatened to hold demonstration against China's human rights violation at any occasion. As Liu Xiaozhu had obtained a press pass earlier, he entered into the news room without any difficulty. But the news briefing was late to the schedule due to President Jiang's extended stay at the Boeing Company. When the Chinese delegation's spokesman Wu Jianmin arrived, he first apologized to the already impatient journalists who had packed the room for more than an hour. Mr. Wu introduced President Jiang's day and events, and described in detail President Jiang's visit to a worker's family at Boeing. Then Mr. Wu began to take questions by pointing to different individuals in the audience. The questions ranged widely from trade, weapon sales to human rights. Then Mr. Wu chose Liu Xiaozhu to present the next question. Liu walked to the front microphone and spoke in Chinese: "I am the representative of IFCSS. The Federation welcomes President Jiang's visit and wishes it a success. The Federation demands that the overseas student and scholar community be represented in the People's Congress. We also hope to cooperate with the Chinese government to assist overseas Chinese students to go back to China, and in addition to organize a delegation to visit China for observation and learning. I would like to ask Mr. Wu to respond to these three suggestions by the IFCSS." As the interpreter translated these words into English, the audience was greatly interested. Mr. Wu appeared surprised and confused at first. He even murmured that Quan Mei Xue Zi Lian (IFCSS) is not a media press. But he proceeded to answer the question (in Chinese): "The Chinese government encourages overseas students to return to China to participate in its economic construction. The government has favorable policies to them. They are free to come and leave. In fact, many overseas students have already returned so far. As to your question about designated seat[s] in the People's Congress for the overseas Chinese student and scholar community, I am a government spokesman, not a representative from the legislative branch. Whether this can be done or not perhaps need to be discussed by the People's Representatives." Then he turned to another reporter for the last question. Mr. Wu responded to two of the three questions by Liu Xiaozhu. However, he did not respond to the question concerning IFCSS organizing a delegation to visit China. Coming out of the briefing room, Liu Xiaozhu was approached by several interested reporters who asked about the IFCSS and its opinions over President Jiang's visit. ********************************************************************* * IFCSS Headquarters Office * *-------------------------------------------------------------------* * President: Lin Changsheng Vice President: Shi Heping * * Exec. Director: Liu Xiaozhu Chief of Staff: Huang Songyun * *-------------------------------------------------------------------* * PBS-L is IFCSS's news distribution list for individuals. To sign * * on or off from IFCSS E-mail mailing list, please send email to : * * listserv@ifcss.org * * leave the subject line open and put in the mail body: * * (For signing on) sub PBS-L last name first name * * (For signing off) unsub PBS-L last name first name * * For more information about IFCSS, write to ifcss-info@ifcss.org * *********************************************************************