22 May 2008
No time scale for talks with Dalai Lama
(PTI) Beijing has said that no dates have yet been fixed for the next round of talks between Beijing and the envoys of the Dalai Lama. Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said: "As for the next round of negotiations and talks, the specific time work is under discussion. You know that under the current circumstances, the entire Chinese nation is focusing on relief work". Mr Qin was asked about remarks the Dalai Lama made that he may attend the Beijing Olympics if the situation in the unrest-hit Tibet improved and an invitation was extended to him by China. He said: "If the Dalai Lama side wants to make some contribution to the motherland, then he should stop separatist activities, stop plotting and provoking violent activities and stop disrupting the Beijing Olympics".