The Chinese government has criticized Britain for allowing the
Dalai Lama to pay a visit and meet Prince Charles.
"We have expressed on many occasions to the British side that
China is opposed to the activities carried out by the Dalai Lama
and his followers, which are aimed at splitting China and
undermining national unity," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu
Jianchao told a news briefing in Beijing Thursday.
He said China was also opposed to any official figures of any
countries inviting or meeting the Dalai Lama in any setting.
"We felt deep regret and displeasure that the British side
insisted on arranging the visit despite China's repeated
representations," Liu said.
In another development, the spokesman said China was elated that
the Organization of American States (OAS) accepted it as a
permanent observer on Wednesday.
Liu said the OAS was the most important political organization
in the Western Hemisphere and that it plays an active role in
maintaining the security and stability, as well as promoting peace
and development, within the region.
He said China had worked closely with American countries in the
past few years in political, economic and trade, social and
cultural fields.
"China would like to make active efforts to enhance cooperation
with all American countries on the basis of the organization," said
Liu.
He also expressed China's willingness to become a member of the
Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
"China supports the goals and guidelines of the NSG and
appreciates its efforts in strengthening the control over nuclear
exports and nuclear-related exports," said Liu.
"China is willing to contribute to the non-proliferation of
nuclear weapons by entering the NSG."
Established in 1975, the NSG is an unofficial organization of
countries with nuclear capability that exercises control on nuclear
exports. It has played an important role in nuclear
non-proliferation and nuclear export control.
China applied to join it on Jan. 26 this year.
When asked whether the construction of the National Theater
needs to be reevaluated, the spokesman said the authorities will
take a scientific attitude toward the design of the landmark
building in Beijing.
The designer of the theater, French architect Paul Andreu, also
designed the terminal at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris where a
walkway collapsed at the weekend killing four people.
Also at yesterday's briefing, Liu said the Shanghai company that
offered US visa counseling services, which was closed for
overcharging, has come to realize its problems and is applying for
approval.
Liu said that since the company closed in April, the Foreign
Ministry has asked the US Embassy in China several times to urge
the company to abide by the laws and regulations.
The ministry will pay close attention to the process of this
issue, Liu noted.
The company provided charged counseling for US visa information
and appointment reservation services. Relevant Shanghai departments
received some reports from Chinese citizens complaining that the
company had overcharged them and thus an ensuing investigation was
carried out.
The outcome of the probe revealed that the company's services
had never received any permit from the relevant Chinese authorities
and the service fee the company charged was also not approved.
Under such circumstances, the relevant Chinese departments asked
it to suspend operation immediately.
Turning to Sino-Indian relations, Liu said China is willing to
make joint efforts with India to promote bilateral ties.
He said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing had a phone
conversation with his Indian counterpart, K. Natwar Singh, on
Wednesday evening, congratulating him for being appointed foreign
minister.
China and India will jointly celebrate the 50th anniversary of
the establishment of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence
this year.
Li said the principles are great contributions of Chinese,
Indian and Asian people to the international relations and still
have strong vitality today.
Singh said India attaches great importance to the friendly
relations it has with China, and India is willing to promote ties
in an all-round way under the guidance of the Five Principles of
Peaceful Coexistence.
The two sides also exchanged views on the Iraqi issue.
According to the spokesman, China considers it necessary to send
a multinational force to Iraq.
Liu said that China supports the United Nations (UN) Security
Council to adopt a new resolution on Iraq, which would require
sending a multinational force.
However, the force's mandate and timetable should be clearly
stipulated in the new resolution, and the voices from Iraq should
also be heard, Liu said.
The spokesman announced Ambassador Wang Shijie, China's special
envoy on the Middle East issue, will visit Palestine, Jordan and
Syria starting from June 1.
Wang will exchange views with the three sides on the relaxation
of the current tensions in the Middle East and promotion of the
peace process, Liu said.
Liu also announced that China will attend the 10th China-ASEAN
Senior Officials' Consultation held in Sihanoukville, Cambodia from
June 3 to 4.
China's Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang will lead a
Chinese delegation to attend the meeting.
Liu said that the consultation was launched in 1995 as an
important annual political consultation mechanism for the two
sides.
During the upcoming meeting, the two sides will exchange views
in an in-depth manner on deepening the China-ASEAN strategic
partnership for peace and prosperity as well as international and
regional issues of common interest.
The meeting will also make preparation for the informal foreign
ministers' meeting between China and ASEAN and the China-ASEAN
summit at the end of this year, Liu said.
The China-ASEAN relationship has been developing rapidly, said
Liu, adding that with the issuance of the Joint Declaration Between
China and Member States of ASEAN on the Strategic Partnership for
Peace and Prosperity, China became the first non-ASEAN state to
join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
This signals a new height of bilateral ties and opens up fresh
prospects for further development of bilateral relations, he
said.
(Sources including China Daily and Xinhua News Agency, May 28,
2004)