Door still open for talks with the Dalai Lama
- Source: Global Times
- [02:45 February 02 2010]
- Comments
The authorities said Monday that the door for contacts and talks remained open to the Dalai Lama, but no concessions would be made on issues concerning the national sovereignty.
Du Qinglin, head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, had met with private envoys of the Dalai Lama in Beijing, said a statement from the department released Monday.
No exact date was given in the statement.
During the meeting, Du pointed out that issues concerning China's territory and sovereignty were non-negotiable and no concessions would be made on those issues, the statement said.
Du said the so-called "Greater Tibet" and "high-level autonomy" violated China's Constitution and only if the Dalai lama completely aban-doned such claims, could there be a foundation for contacts and talks.
The contacts and talks would have no progress if the Dalai Lama side continued activities against China and refused to show basic respect and sincerity, he said.
"Tibetan people cherish peace and stability. It is no use to cheat them and act against their will. The activities of infiltration and provocation, which are doomed to fail, will only create barriers for the talks and isolate the Dalai Lama and his followers," the statement quoted Du as saying.
During the meeting, Du also introduced the achievements made by the Tibet Autonomous Region over the past years under the leadership of the CPC, according to the statement.
The Dalai Lama's private envoys, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, expressed their opinions on relevant issues.
It was the first meeting since November 2008, when the central government met two private representatives of the Dalai Lama.
The new talk was the 10th in a string of meetings between the two sides since 2002.
The central government has repeated demands that the Dalai Lama renounce his "separatist" activities.
Xinhua – Global Times
