The Chinese government has criticized Britain for allowing the Dalai Lama to pay a visit and meet Prince Charles.

"We have expressed on many occasions to the British side that China is opposed to the activities carried out by the Dalai Lama and his followers, which are aimed at splitting China and undermining national unity," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a news briefing in Beijing Thursday.

He said China was also opposed to any official figures of any countries inviting or meeting the Dalai Lama in any setting.

"We felt deep regret and displeasure that the British side insisted on arranging the visit despite China's repeated representations," Liu said.

In another development, the spokesman said China was elated that the Organization of American States (OAS) accepted it as a permanent observer on Wednesday.

Liu said the OAS was the most important political organization in the Western Hemisphere and that it plays an active role in maintaining the security and stability, as well as promoting peace and development, within the region.

He said China had worked closely with American countries in the past few years in political, economic and trade, social and cultural fields.

"China would like to make active efforts to enhance cooperation with all American countries on the basis of the organization," said Liu.

He also expressed China's willingness to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

"China supports the goals and guidelines of the NSG and appreciates its efforts in strengthening the control over nuclear exports and nuclear-related exports," said Liu.

"China is willing to contribute to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons by entering the NSG."

Established in 1975, the NSG is an unofficial organization of countries with nuclear capability that exercises control on nuclear exports. It has played an important role in nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear export control.

China applied to join it on Jan. 26 this year.

When asked whether the construction of the National Theater needs to be reevaluated, the spokesman said the authorities will take a scientific attitude toward the design of the landmark building in Beijing.

The designer of the theater, French architect Paul Andreu, also designed the terminal at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris where a walkway collapsed at the weekend killing four people.

Also at yesterday's briefing, Liu said the Shanghai company that offered US visa counseling services, which was closed for overcharging, has come to realize its problems and is applying for approval.

Liu said that since the company closed in April, the Foreign Ministry has asked the US Embassy in China several times to urge the company to abide by the laws and regulations.

The ministry will pay close attention to the process of this issue, Liu noted.

The company provided charged counseling for US visa information and appointment reservation services. Relevant Shanghai departments received some reports from Chinese citizens complaining that the company had overcharged them and thus an ensuing investigation was carried out.

The outcome of the probe revealed that the company's services had never received any permit from the relevant Chinese authorities and the service fee the company charged was also not approved.

Under such circumstances, the relevant Chinese departments asked it to suspend operation immediately.

Turning to Sino-Indian relations, Liu said China is willing to make joint efforts with India to promote bilateral ties.

He said Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing had a phone conversation with his Indian counterpart, K. Natwar Singh, on Wednesday evening, congratulating him for being appointed foreign minister.

China and India will jointly celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence this year.

Li said the principles are great contributions of Chinese, Indian and Asian people to the international relations and still have strong vitality today.

Singh said India attaches great importance to the friendly relations it has with China, and India is willing to promote ties in an all-round way under the guidance of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Iraqi issue.

According to the spokesman, China considers it necessary to send a multinational force to Iraq.

Liu said that China supports the United Nations (UN) Security Council to adopt a new resolution on Iraq, which would require sending a multinational force.

However, the force's mandate and timetable should be clearly stipulated in the new resolution, and the voices from Iraq should also be heard, Liu said.

The spokesman announced Ambassador Wang Shijie, China's special envoy on the Middle East issue, will visit Palestine, Jordan and Syria starting from June 1.

Wang will exchange views with the three sides on the relaxation of the current tensions in the Middle East and promotion of the peace process, Liu said.

Liu also announced that China will attend the 10th China-ASEAN Senior Officials' Consultation held in Sihanoukville, Cambodia from June 3 to 4.

China's Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang will lead a Chinese delegation to attend the meeting.

Liu said that the consultation was launched in 1995 as an important annual political consultation mechanism for the two sides.

During the upcoming meeting, the two sides will exchange views in an in-depth manner on deepening the China-ASEAN strategic partnership for peace and prosperity as well as international and regional issues of common interest.

The meeting will also make preparation for the informal foreign ministers' meeting between China and ASEAN and the China-ASEAN summit at the end of this year, Liu said.

The China-ASEAN relationship has been developing rapidly, said Liu, adding that with the issuance of the Joint Declaration Between China and Member States of ASEAN on the Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity, China became the first non-ASEAN state to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.

This signals a new height of bilateral ties and opens up fresh prospects for further development of bilateral relations, he said.

(Sources including China Daily and Xinhua News Agency, May 28, 2004)