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)