CHINA: French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says North Korea has nothing to gain from 'anything that is a provocation' during his two day visit to Beijing, where he held talks with Chinese leaders
Record ID:
872776
CHINA: French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says North Korea has nothing to gain from 'anything that is a provocation' during his two day visit to Beijing, where he held talks with Chinese leaders
- Title: CHINA: French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says North Korea has nothing to gain from 'anything that is a provocation' during his two day visit to Beijing, where he held talks with Chinese leaders
- Date: 12th April 2013
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (APRIL 12, 2013) (REUTERS) FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER LAURENT FABIUS TAKING SEAT VARIOUS OF MEDIA AND ATTENDEES WAITING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE TO BEGIN (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, LAURENT FABIUS, SAYING: "We hope peace can be achieved throughout the world. There is currently considerable tension on the peninsula because of North Korea. We are very concerned about this and so are the Chinese. We said that France would like to do what we can, even if we are far away. We are looking for a peaceful solution." MEDIA AND ATTENDEES LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, LAURENT FABIUS, SAYING: "Anything that is a provocation, or that adds to tension, does not have our support, and to the contrary should be denounced. We think North Korea has nothing to gain from this." VARIOUS OF NEWS CONFERENCE ENDING AND MEDIA AND ATTENDEES PREPARING TO LEAVE
- Embargoed: 27th April 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- City:
- Country: China
- Topics: Conflict
- Reuters ID: LVAA1EHNCZ86JWDJUA1YNGNW4E9A
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said North Korea has nothing to gain from "anything that is a provocation" on Friday (April 12) at a news conference held during his two-day visit to Beijing where he met with key Chinese leaders.
Fabius arrived in Beijing on Friday where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and former Foreign Minister and current State Councillor Yang Jiechi, to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
At a Friday evening news conference held at the French Embassy in Beijing, the French Foreign Minister discussed France's current stance towards North Korea.
"We hope peace can be achieved throughout the world. There is currently considerable tension on the peninsula because of North Korea. We are very concerned about this and so are the Chinese. We said that France would like to do what we can, even if we are far away. We are looking for a peaceful solution," Fabius said to media.
The North has issued weeks of shrill threats of an impending war following the imposition of U.N. sanctions in response to its third nuclear test in February.
"Anything that is a provocation, or adds to tension, does not have our support, and to the contrary should be denounced. We think North Korea has nothing to gain from this," Fabius added.
France does not maintain official diplomatic relations with North Korea. China, however, remains North Korea's closest ally, but has denounced North Korea's recent bellicose rhetoric. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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