Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said?Friday that talks between the central government and the Dalai Lama may continue if he is sincere and really gives up his separatist attempt.
"Tibet is an inalienable part of China and issues related to Tibet are China's internal affairs which should not be interfered by foreign countries," Wen told reporters at a press conference after the National People's Congress (NPC) closed its annual session.
"Our stance toward Tibet is consistent and clear cut," he said, adding the door is always open for talks with the Dalai Lama if he gives up his separatist attempt.
Wen said the central government held three talks last year with the Dalai Lama's representatives in response to their request.
"Such talks could continue as long as the Dalai Lama is sincere, otherwise no substantial results could be made," he told reporters.
Wen said the Dalai Lama was "not a simple religious figure" but a political exile and "we have full evidence."
"The so-called government-in-exile situated in Dharamsala is a defacto, theocratic regime and this illegal government was under direct leadership of the Dalai Lama," he said.
The monk has been traveling around the world and is quite capable of misleading some political figures, Wen said, adding some western countries are also trying to use him.
"We should not only listen to what he has said but also look what he has done," he told reporters.
Wen said the current stability and development of Tibet has demonstrated that the Chinese central government has carried out correct policies in the region.
"The situation in Tibet on the whole is stable. The Tibetan people hope to live and work in peace and stability," Wen said.
"Both China's Constitution and the Law on Ethnic Regional Autonomy safeguard the freedom and rights of people in Tibet, particularly in religious belief," the premier said.
He added that the central government has increased fiscal input to Tibet to accelerate the region's economic development and to improve the well-being of farmers and herders.
"The Tibet Autonomous Region will continue following the opening-up policy for the sake of its own development," Wen said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2009)