Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu yesterday expressed the hope that the Dalai Lama and his followers would cherish the opportunity for contact and consultation with the relevant department of the central government and stop secessionist activities or Beijing Olympic disruptions.

Jiang said the central government's policy toward the Dalai Lama had always been consistent. She also said it showed the broad-mindedness of the central government that the relevant department would have contact and consultation with the Dalai side.

"We hope the Dalai Lama and his followers will cherish this opportunity, recognize the situation, change their position, and take concrete actions to stop violent crimes and activities and those involving disruption of the Beijing Olympics and splitting the motherland, to create conditions for further consultation," she said.

Jiang said Tibet was an inalienable part of the Chinese territory and Tibet affairs were completely internal affairs of China. Any contact and consultation between the central government and the Dalai side were also China's internal affairs.

"On the issue of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Chinese government and people will never yield to any pressure from outside," said Jiang. She added that China has the confidence and ability to manage its own affairs.

She expressed the hope that the international community could fully understand and support Chinese government efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, social stability and the interests of all Chinese people.

The relevant central government department will have contact and consultation with the Dalai's private representative in the coming days.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2008)