BEIJING, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- After the French
announced their leader would meet the Dalai Lama, China had no choice but to
react, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said here Friday in a
statement.
France made the announcement brushing aside China's
stance and bilateral relations, Qin said.
He said China attached great importance to the 11th
China-European Union Summit scheduled to take place in France in early December,
and had made active and intensive preparations for it. But the French leader,
Nicholas Sarkozy, whose country currently holds the EU rotating presidency,
announced he would meet the Dalai Lama after the summit, which aroused strong
opposition from the Chinese government and people.
"China firmly opposes any contacts with the Dalai
Lama by foreign leaders in whatever form," Qin said.
"The Tibet issue is related to China's sovereignty
and territorial integrity and touches on China's core interests," he said.
To maintain good relations with France and the EU,
China has been patiently talking with France time and again, hoping that it
would properly handle the Tibet issue, so as to create necessary conditions for
the China-EU summit, Qin said.
Regrettably, France did not actively respond to
China's efforts to maintain relations with France and the EU. "Therefore, the
summit cannot be held in a sound atmosphere, nor can it achieve expected goals.
Under such circumstances, China has no choice but to postpone the summit," he
said.
"The current situation is not caused by China, nor
should China be held responsible," Qin pointed out.
Nevertheless, China does not change its determination
and policy to actively develop EU-China comprehensive and strategic partnership.
China is still willing to work together with the EU to push forward the healthy
and stable development of China-EU relations on the basis of mutual respect on
an equal footing, he said.
Qin said China cherishes the ties with France and has
been making active and unremitting efforts to develop bilateral relations.
"We hope that France could proceed with an overall
perspective, fulfil its commitments, and properly deal with China's major
concerns in earnest so as to create conditions for the steady development of
bilateral relations," he added.
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
