01 July 2008
Beijing opposes linking Tibet to Olympics
(Xinhua) Beijing once again expressed opposition to connecting Tibet-related issues with the Beijing Olympics. Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao made the remarks in response to a question concerning French President Nicolas Sarkozy's recent comments about the Dalai Lama. Sarkozy said he would attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics if the latest contact between Beijing and the Dalai Lama achieved some progress. He also said he would meet with the Dalai Lama in early August. "The Tibet issue is China's internal affair, and the contact between the central government and the Dalai Lama's private representatives is an internal matter", Liu said. "We oppose some country leaders meeting with the Dalai Lama in any form, oppose connecting Tibet-related issues with the Beijing Olympics and politicising the Olympics", the spokesman said.