Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao said at a regular
press conference in Beijing on Thursday that the Dalai Lama's
appointment of a successor would violate religious rituals and
historical conventions of Tibetan Buddhism.
Liu made the remarks when asked to comment on the Dalai Lama's
recent remarks indicating that he might announce his successor.
He said that the system of reincarnation of great lamas is
unique to Tibetan Buddhism, a practice with complete religious
rituals and historical conventions.
The Chinese government carries out the policy of religious
freedom and respects the conventions of Tibetan Buddhism. The
government has clarified its policy in a recently released
regulation on reincarnation of great lamas, Liu said.
"The Dalai Lama's remarks obviously violated religious rituals
and historical conventions," he added.
Emissions reduction
China emphasized that developing countries should shoulder the
responsibility of cutting emissions but should not have to meet
compulsory targets set by rich nations.
"Setting a target of cutting emissions is a principal issue for
a nation, which should be done by the country itself," Liu
said.
Liu added that China always stands by its principles on dealing
with climate change.
"Climate change is an issue concerning the survival and
development of humankind, it also requires common efforts by
international society," said Liu.
He said that developed countries should face up to their
historical responsibilities, take the lead in cutting emissions and
honor their commitments on technological transfer and financial aid
to developing countries.
The "common but differentiated responsibilities" established by
the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change represents an
international consensus and all countries should uphold the
Convention and its Kyoto Protocol as the basic framework for
international cooperation, Liu said.
A conference on the UN framework is scheduled in Bali, Indonesia
next month, with some 10,000 participants from over 189 countries
expected to attend. The UN hopes to launch two years of talks to
develop a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in
2012.
The US, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has
refused to ratify the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which mandates cuts in
the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.
"Developing countries should shoulder their due responsibilities
to cut emissions; however, developed nations should not set
compulsory targets to cut emissions for less developed countries,"
Liu said.
China has set targets on greenhouse gas emission controls to be
met in 2010, including cutting the energy intensity of GDP by 20
percent from the 2005 level and freezing industrial emissions of
nitrous oxide at the 2005 level.
Mideast international meeting
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will attend the international
meeting on Middle East scheduled from November 26 to 27 in
the US at the invitation of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice,
Liu said.
During the meeting to be held in Annapolis, Maryland, China will
work with all concerned parties and discuss how to promote the
Middle East peace process, Liu said.
China supports and would like to participate in all
international efforts that are conducive to the realization of
Middle East peace, he said, expressing the hope for an early,
comprehensive and lasting resolution of the issue.
Liu said the meeting has drawn international attention,
including Arab countries. All sides, as well as China, have pinned
great expectations?on the meeting.
China hopes Palestine and Israel would communicate with each
other and discuss possible resolutions, and negotiate significant
results, Liu said.
The international conference on the Middle East revives hopes of
advancing the stalled Middle East peace process.
Toy safety
"China hopes the Chinese-made toys can bring joy to children
around the world on Christmas," Liu remarked when responding to
recent US criticism on the safety of Chinese toys.
Liu said that China has taken note of world concern and made
great efforts to improve the quality of its exported toys.
"I believe Chinese products, including toys, will continue to be
loved by consumers around the world through the concerted efforts
of the Chinese government and enterprises," he said.
"I wish children around the world a safe and happy Christmas and
I hope Chinese-made toys can bring them joy," Liu added.
Six-party talks
China is in close consultation with other concerned parties
regarding the next arrangement of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula
nuclear issue, Liu said.
"All parties feel generally positive towards the next round of
chief delegates' meeting and I believe that the meeting will be
held at a time which is appropriate and necessary to all," he
said.
North Korea agreed to disable all existing nuclear facilities by
the end of this year, according to a joint document released on
Oct. 3 when the second phase of the sixth round of six-party talks
ended in Beijing.
The six-party talks involve China, North and South Korea, the
US, Japan and Russia.
European financial officials' coming visit
Liu announced that Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime Minister and
Minister of State and Finance of Luxembourg, and President of
Eurogroup, Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central
Bank, and Joaquin Almunia, Commissioner for Economic and Monetary
Affairs of the Commission of the European Union, will visit Beijing
from November 27 to 29.
The delegation of these key European financial officials,
invited by the People's Bank of China, will conduct an in-depth
exchange of opinions on China-Europe economic and financial
cooperation, Liu added.
(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2007)
