Chinese iron ore negotiator cracks under the strain...
CISA sees red over iron ore, tells press to shut up
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Reuters - Wednesday, February 10
BEIJING, Feb 9 - China's steel association attacked the media on Tuesday for irresponsible reporting and warned journalists not to undermine China's iron ore price negotiations this year, after the closely-watched talks failed last year.
Wu Xichun, honorary chairman of the China Iron and Steel Association , lambasted reporters at a news conference and ripped through a portfolio of press clippings, pointing out bias and inaccuracy while banging the desk and shouting.
"If Comrade Mao Zedong was still alive, he wouldn't put up with this kind of thinking," Wu said while criticising a specific report in the state media about a plan by China's top steelmaker, Baosteel <600019.SS>, to raise prices for its products.
"Please don't report on it any more, you're not doing us any favours," he said, referring to the iron ore talks.
China's domestic media, which is often careful to avoid politically sensitive subjects, was critical of CISA last year when it led an ill-fated attempt to win big price cuts from iron ore suppliers.
Wu, a former vice minister who worked at Anshan Iron & Steel from 1955, said media reports focus too much on Chinese steel firms' weak international negotiating stance and pricing power, which had put China at a disadvantage in last year's iron ore talks, which were led by CISA for the first time.
The talks collapsed after CISA failed to reach agreement with any of the three top suppliers, Vale <VALE5.SA>, Rio Tinto <RIO.AX> and BHP Billiton <BHP.AX>, and China arrested four Rio employees.
"Why not write about the big three having a monopoly over the steel industry," Wu asked reporters, who had come to the routine news conference hoping for some insight into this year's negotiations.
"So don't ask me anything about iron ore talks! Nobody from CISA will tell you anything about it. You'd better not waste your time and keep on prying," he said.
Chinese and foreign negotiators had promised to keep their lips sealed about the current round of talks until they reach a final deal, he said.
Wu, 75, later apologised for berating reporters and said: "If I can't let my emotions out I'll get sick."
(Reporting by Eadie Chen and Tom Miles; Editing by Michael Urquhart) |
