Special report: Tibet: Its Past and Present
BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China received positive
responses Friday after announcing that the central government will meet with the
Dalai Lama's private representative in the coming days.
Xinhua learned from official sources Friday that "the
relevant department of the central government" will meet with the Dalai's
private representative.
"In view of the requests repeatedly made by the Dalai
side for resuming talks, the relevant department of the central government will
have contact and consultation with the Dalai's private representative in the
coming days," an official said.
"The policy of the central government toward the
Dalai has been consistent and the door of dialogue has remained open," he said.
"It is hoped that through contact and consultation,
the Dalai side will take credible moves to stop activities aimed at splitting
China, stop plotting and inciting violence and stop disrupting and sabotaging
the Beijing Olympic Games so as to create conditions for talks," the official
added.
The United States said Friday it was pleased to hear
China's announcement to resume talks with an envoy of the Dalai Lama very soon.
"We are pleased to hear this," White House spokesman
Gordon Johndroe said, "We welcome the news that the Chinese authorities will
engage with the Dalai Lama's representatives."
European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso
expressed happiness with the announcement.
"We are of course very happy with this announcement,"
he said, hoping China's decision would also help "create a better understanding
between China and Europe."
Barroso, heading a high-level EU delegation, arrived
in Beijing Thursday afternoon for a three-day visit.
EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, one of the
nine commissioners in Barroso's delegation, said, "We want dialogue, not a
boycott. We all want the Olympics to be a success, and reaching out in this way
will help."
French President Nicolas Sarkozy welcomes the
announcement by the Chinese government of "a renewal of dialogue in the coming
days with representatives of the Dalai Lama," Sarkozy's office said in a
statement.
Germany welcomes China's offer to meet with the
Dalai's private representative in the coming days.
"We expressly welcome this move," German Foreign
Ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger said. "We hope very much that this can
contribute to resolving the conflict in Tibet," the spokesman added.
Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said, "I
hope that this dialogue will be a success."
Singapore welcomed the decision of the Chinese
government, saying it " will help maintain stability in Tibet."
"No one, least of all the Tibetan people, gains from
the continuation of tensions and protests and the attempts to link the Tibetan
issue with the Beijing Olympic games," the Singaporean Foreign Ministry said in
a statement.
China's central gov't department to meet with Dalai's private representative
BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China's central government department will meet with Dalai's private representative in the coming days, Xinhua learned from official sources on Friday.
"In view of the requests repeatedly made by the Dalai side for resuming talks, the relevant department of the central government will have contact and consultation with Dalai's private representative in the coming days," an official said. Full story
Tibet government denies reports by foreign media
LHASA, April 25 (Xinhua) -- The Information Office of the Tibet Autonomous Region has denied three reports concerning alleged events in the region by foreign media, calling them "malicious."
The office issued a statement to Xinhua on Friday, saying the regional government checked reports saying that lamas in Gyanmda County in Qamdo Prefecture are against "patriotic education" in monasteries, Tibetans in Nyagquka County are forced to sign statements opposing the Dalai Lama, and that armed police entered the Sera Monastery on April 18 and detained monks there. Full story
What's the matter with Tibet?
BEIJING, April 24 (xinhua) -- Canadian writer Lisa Carducci wrote an article entitled "What's the matter with Tibet?" for China Daily, a Beijing-based English newspaper, explaining why people outside China usually have a prejudice against Tibet. Here is the full text of the article, which was published on April 22.
It is one thing to be interested in Tibet, as most of my acquaintances are. It is another to have totally prejudiced views, which unfortunately is the case with most of them. Full story
Tibet to receive first tour group since March 14 unrest
LHASA, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Tibet received its first domestic tour group since the March 14 unrest on Thursday evening, another sign the region was returning to normal.
The 15-member tour group from the eastern city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, arrived at the Lhasa Railway Station at about 9:50 p.m.. Each was presented with a hada -- a long white silk scarf used as a greeting gift in Tibet -- by staff from the travel agency. Full story
China publishes bilingual book on Tibet's past, today
BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhua) -- An illustrated book has been published in China aiming to inform readers, especially those overseas, of the past and present lives of Tibetans.
"Tibet: Past and Today," was published in both Chinese and English for readers' reference, SDX Joint Publishing Company said here on Tuesday. Full story
