Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao stressed Tuesday that Tibet is an inseparable part of Chinese territory and the channel for contact between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama is open as long as the latter abandons his stand on Tibetan independence and stops separatist activities.

It has become an international understanding that Tibet is an inseparable part of China, Hu told a joint press conference after talks with his French counterpart, Jacques Chirac.

The Chinese president said differences between the Chinese government and the Dalai clique are not an ethnic issue, nor are they a religious or human rights issue. The differences are an issue of principle over whether or not one recognizes Tibet as an inseparable part of Chinese territory.

The Chinese government's policy on the Dalai Lama is clear. As long as he abandons his stand on Tibetan independence, stops activities aimed at splitting China and recognizes Tibet as an inseparable part of Chinese territory, the channel for contact between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama is always open, Hu said.

Hu arrived Paris  Monday for a three-day state visit, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

France is the first leg of Hu's four-nation tour, which will also take him to Egypt, Gabon and Algeria.

(Xinhua News Agency January 28, 2004)