Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Australia
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Vietnam
Search
Search:
China forced to act over Sarkozy-Dalai Lama meeting: spokesman
AFP - 1 hour 53 minutes ago
BEIJING (AFP) - - China said Friday it was forced to react over a planned meeting between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Dalai Lama, after postponing a summit with the European Union.
"China firmly opposes any contacts with the Dalai Lama by foreign leaders in whatever form," Qin Gang said in a statement quoted by the state-run Xinhua news agency, repeating China's stance.
China Wednesday decided to scrap the summit scheduled for next week in France, which Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao had been due to attend.
It directed its anger particularly at France because it holds the EU's rotating presidency and because Sarkozy has insisted he will meet the Tibetan spiritual leader in Poland on December 6.
The Dalai Lama is also due to visit the Czech Republic and Belgium, where he is scheduled to address the European Parliament in Brussels on December 4.
France had brushed aside China's stance and bilateral relations, Qin said in a statement, according to Xinhua.
"The Tibet issue is related to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and touches on China's core interests," he said, adding that France had not responded adequately to China's efforts to maintain good relations with it and the EU.
"Therefore, the summit cannot be held in a sound atmosphere, nor can it achieve expected goals. Under such circumstances, China has no choice but to postpone the summit," he said, according to Xinhua.
"The current situation is not caused by China, nor should China be held responsible," Qin reiterated.
"We hope that France could proceed with an overall perspective, fulfil its commitments, and properly deal with China's major concerns in earnest so as to create conditions for the steady development of bilateral relations," he added.
China has for many years opposed foreign leaders meeting the Dalai Lama, who it maintains is trying to win independence for his Himalayan homeland that has been under Chinese rule since 1951.
The Dalai Lama in turn insists he only wants meaningful autonomy for Tibet under Chinese rule.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
Average (0 votes)
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Asia Pacific
Thai protesters defiant as police boost presenceAP - 15 minutes ago
India blames "elements" in Pakistan for attacksAP - 26 minutes ago
Mumbai survivor: 'There were bodies everywhere'AP - 1 hour 18 minutes ago
Former Thai PM warns that coup would be bloodyAP - 1 hour 42 minutes ago
China forced to act over Sarkozy-Dalai Lama meeting: spokesmanAFP - 1 hour 53 minutes ago
Enlarge Photo
China forced to act over Sarkozy-Dalai Lama meeting: spokesman
Most Popular – Asia Pacific
Viewed
US clears Bank of America deal for Merrill Lynch
US president's mother 'doing very well' in hospital: Laura Bush
Love handles increase death risk: study
Michael Jackson strikes 'amicable' deal with Arab sheikh
Obama vows 'help is on the way' for the economy
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular