China resolutely opposes the US Congress's awarding of a
so-called Congressional gold medal to the Dalai Lama, Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said at a regular press
conference in Beijing on Thursday.
China also firmly opposes any country and any person using the
issue of the Dalai Lama to interfere with China's internal affairs,
Liu said.
"We have made solemn statements to the US over this issue," he
said.
The White House said on Wednesday that the US Congress planned
to award the Dalai Lama the Congressional gold medal on October
17.
"We hope all relevant countries would stick to the correct
position regarding the Tibet issue. We hope that no one will use
this issue to interfere with China's internal affairs," Liu
said.
"I believe this statement serves the mutual interests directed
at a long-term relationship between China and other relevant
countries," he added.
The Myanmar situation
China on Thursday said that the international community should
act in a constructive way to help Myanmar achieve stability,
reconciliation, democracy and development.
The Myanmar situation was returning to calm and moving in a
positive direction, Liu said.
"We hope relevant efforts to this issue will be conducive to the
UN secretary-general's mediation and helpful for Myanmar to achieve
reconciliation, stability and democracy," he said.
Peacekeepers to Darfur
China has sent a five-man team in advance to Sudan's Darfur, to
prepare ahead the equipment needed for the scheduled 315-men
engineering unit, said Liu, adding that another 135-man advance
troop will also leave for Sudan in the next few days.
"Regarding the question of China’s deployment of a total 315-man
engineering unit to Darfur and a possible delay, we will arrange it
in accordance with the general layout of the UN," said Liu.
He said that the departure date for other scheduled engineering
unit personnel is yet to be set by the UN.
China has committed to sending a 315-men multi-functional
engineering unit to Darfur in early October, which would be the
first batch of UN-AU peacekeepers in place in Darfur, according to
China's Special Representative on African Affairs Liu Guijin.
Colombian hostage issue
"China welcomes the positive efforts by Venezuelan and Colombian
governments as well as the international community to help release
the hostages at an early date and believes these efforts are
conducive to peace, stability and development of Colombia," said
Liu.
He made the remarks at a regular press conference when
commenting on the recent mediation effort by Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez.
Liu also said China had closely watched the peace process in
Colombia.
In early August Chavez accepted a position as mediator between
the Colombian government and the country's rebel groups, the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), who have been
immersed in armed conflict for over half a century.
The FARC has demanded a safe haven to exchange 45 prominent
hostages, including three US contractors and Franco-Colombian
politician Ingrid Betancourt, for 500 FARC prisoners.
(Xinhua News Agency October 12, 2007)
