BEIJING, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday
demanded France create a good atmosphere for the China-EU summit that was
postponed because of a planned meeting between Tibetan secessionist the Dalai
Lama, and French President, Nicholas Sarkozy.
"The convening of the 11th China-EU Summit depends on
whether France, which holds the rotating EU presidency, will take proper
measures to create the necessary and good conditions and atmosphere for the
summit," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular briefing.
Qin's comments came in response to questions about
when and on what conditions would the China-EU summit be held.
The annual summit was originally scheduled to take
place in France in early December. But as the French leader announced earlier
this month that he would meet with the Dalai Lama after it, China had to
postpone the summit following futile attempts to persuade France not to go
ahead.
"The current situation is not caused by China, nor
should China be held responsible for it," Qin said.
Stressing that the Tibet issue is related to China's
sovereignty and territorial integrity and concerns China's core interest, Qin
said, "The Chinese government and people resolutely oppose the Dalai Lama's
separatist activities in any countries in whatever capacity, and the contact
between foreign leaders with him in whatever form."
"China has not changed its determination and policy
to actively develop its ties with the EU," Qin said.
The spokesman reaffirmed China was still willing to
work together with the EU from the long term perspective, to push forward the
healthy and stable development of China-EU relations on the basis of mutual
respect on an equal footing.
"Under the current situation, it is imperative for
China and EU to jointly address global challenges, including the financial
crisis, food and energy security and climate change," Qin said.
Qin said China cherished the ties with France and has
been making active and unremitting efforts to develop bilateral relations.
"We hope that France could proceed from the overall
interest, and properly deal with China's major concerns in earnest so as to
create conditions for the steady and sound development of bilateral relations."
BEIJING, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- China has to postpone the
11th summit with the European Union scheduled in early December because of
French leader's planned meeting with the Dalai Lama, Chinese Foreign Ministry
spokesman Qin Gang said here Wednesday night.
The decision is made because the summit does not
enjoy a good atmosphere, nor can it achieve expected goals, Qin said, adding the
cause and responsibility do not lie on the Chinese side. Full story
BEIJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- At a press conference of
the State Council Information Office on Nov. 10, Zhu Weiqun, executive vice
director of the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Communist Party of
China (CPC) Central Committee, UFWD Vice Director Sita and Executive Vice
Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region Government Pelma Trilek briefed media on
their talks with private representatives of the Dalai Lama from Oct. 30 to Nov.
5.
Zhu said the Dalai Lama's private representatives
presented the central government a "Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the
Tibetan People", which has drawn wide attention. On November 16, the Dalai side
held a press conference in India. They distributed the "Memorandum," and claimed
that it was completely in accordance with relevant clauses of China's
Constitution and law and it could meet Tibetan people's demands of special
interests, if it was implemented substantially. Full story
BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday
expressed resolute opposition to the meeting between the Dalai Lama and French
President Nicolas Sarkozy in Poland planned for next month.
Sarkozy, whose country holds the EU's
six-month-rotating presidency, will meet the Dalai Lama on Dec. 6 while
attending activities to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the awarding of the
Nobel Peace Prize to former Polish President Lech Walesa. Full story
