China is strongly against any foreign government or organization's meeting with the 14th Dalai Lama in any name, as such practice deviates from their commitment that the Chinese government is the sole legitimate government of China, a senior official said on Saturday.

Executive Vice-Minister Zhang Yijiong of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee speaks during a news conference at the press center of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, Oct 21, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

The 14th Dalai Lama is not only a religious figure but also a political figure. After fleeing China in 1959, he established a so-called government-in-exile, whose goal and core agenda is the independence of Tibet and to separate China. For decades, the group, headed by the 14th Dalai Lama, has never stopped such attempts, Zhang Yijiong, executive vice-minister of the United Front Work Department of CPC Central Committee, said.

"The fact is that there is not a single legitimate government in the world that recognizes the so-called Tibet government-in-exile. Although the Dalai Lama has been received by certain officials, the governments that those officials work for actually don't recognize his group," he added.

Zhang made the remarks in a news conference on Saturday on the sidelines of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Zhang said China is opposed to any foreign government or organization receiving the 14th Dalai Lama in all circumstances. Such behavior hurts the feelings of the Chinese people and shows disrespects to China's sovereignty, he said.

"I hope the governments of foreign countries can speak and act cautiously (on this matter). They need to take the friendship with China and the respect to China's sovereignty into consideration," he said.

Zhang said there is no country in the world that will not protest about foreign governments receiving an individual who goes around the world with the intention of separating the home country.

"So it is inevitable for China to state strong opposition when the 14th Dalai Lama visits foreign countries and even is received by some senior officials," Zhang said.

He added that less and less government officials would meet with the 14th Dalai Lama in recent years. "Now he often could only make speeches at universities or conduct some religious activities," he said.

China, DPRK know importance of good ties

Both Beijing and Pyongyang are aware of the importance of protecting their good relations, a senior official of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee said on Saturday.

Guo Yezhou, vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, speaks during a news conference at the press center of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, Oct 21, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

"China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are neighbors. Both sides know that maintaining, developing and consolidating the friendly and cooperative China-DPRK relations is not only in the best interests of both sides but also bears great significance in regional peace and stability," said Guo Yezhou, vice-minister of the department.

Guo said the communication between the two ruling parties plays an important role in enhancing bilateral relations of the two countries.

"Our Party and the Workers' Party of Korea have the tradition of friendly exchanges," he said.

"As for when and at what level will the two sides carry out personnel exchanges depends on the needs and convenience of both sides."

China's united front work follows foreign laws, customs

China's united front work among overseas Chinese is conducted under the premise of respecting laws and major interests and concerns of local countries, Zhang Yijiong said.

"Our practice is in line with the international convention... and we've been adhering to the principles of open, law-binding and mutual benefits," he said.

Zhang made the remarks in response to a question whether China's united front work among overseas Chinese would affect the political system of local countries.

Zhang said a large number of overseas Chinese are living in different countries and regions around the world, and the number is still rising.

He said China warmly welcomes overseas Chinese to come back to visit their motherland, and China appreciates the contribution of overseas Chinese in their promoting the exchanges between China and the world.

High-level visits between China, Japan need right atmosphere

High-level visits between China and Japan should be based on support of public opinion and understanding of the ordinary people, Guo said, adding that better conditions should be provided for the important relationship.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties between the two neighbors, and the year 2018 will see the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship.

Guo said the bilateral ties face both "important new opportunities" and also some challenges at the moment.

"High-level visits between the two countries indeed bear great significance for development of bilateral ties, but we also know that such visits need support from the public opinion and understanding among the ordinary people," Guo said.

"We expect both sides to work together to provide better conditions and a better atmosphere to better commemorate the two important dates and better develop bilateral ties," he said.

Party's external exchange important part of diplomacy

The Communist Party of China's foreign contacts job should be seen as an important part of the Chinese diplomacy, Guo said on Saturday.

The press center of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China holds a news conference on the united front work and the external work of the CPC, in Beijing, Oct 21, 2017. Executive Vice-Minister Zhang Yijiong (second from left) and Vice-Minister Ran Wanxiang (right) of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, and Guo Yezhou (second from right), vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the conference. [Photo/Xinhua]

"We've always made plans and pushed forward the job centering on double position-setting, namely that the Party's external exchange is an important front of the Party and an important part of the country's overall diplomacy," Guo said.

He said Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, has made systematic instructions on the Party's foreign relations work.

Now the job involves Party diplomacy, public diplomacy and civil diplomacy, he said.

The report of the 19th CPC National Congress has raised clear demands for the Party's external contacts job, while the Party Constitution also carries explicit stipulations on that, Guo said.

The department's job will contribute to forging a community of shared future of human being and pushing forward the Party's construction in the new era, he added.

China condemns violence in Myanmar

China strongly condemns the violence that took place in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state and supports Myanmar's efforts to maintain peace and stability in this region, Guo Yezhou said.

China hopes that all regions in Myanmar could achieve peaceful and stable development, he stated.

Guo said that China and Myanmar are neighbors with deep-rooted friendly relations. "We hope we could work together to deepen such friendship through all channels, including exchanges among political parties, and to push forward bilateral cooperation in all sectors," he said.

Guo said political parties have played a more significant role in the political life of Myanmar since the country's political transition in 2010, and the CPC has established good relations with all major parties in Myanmar.

In June 2015, a delegation head by Aung San Suu Kyi visited China, which pushed forward the relations between the CPC and Myanmar's National League for Democracy, he said.