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.

China postpones summit with EU due to French leader's planned meeting with Dalai Lama

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

Signed article: On the "Memorandum" of the Dalai clique

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

Chinese FM: China opposes French President's meeting with Dalai Lama

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

Source: Xinhua