Press conference on central govt's contacts with Dalai Lama
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Guo Weimin: Well, just as what Vice-Minister Zhu said, let's begin. Please tell us what news agency you represent when asking questions.
Reporter from CCTV: Thank you. My question is for Vice-Minister Zhu Weiqun. I wonder if this new talks are still as dead-locked as before? Do the two sides still refuse to budge? And what of the new contact? And what are the prospects of the future talks?
Zhu Weiqun: Just like the previous talks, the positions of the two sides are very different. As a matter of fact, we have become ourselves accustomed to these sharply divided positions, because we are totally opposed to each other on standpoints. However, I think we have made some progress during the recent talks.
Firstly, we arranged them to visit Chairman Mao Zedong's former residence at Shaoshan and tour in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in Hunan Province. This has made it possible for them to gain a deeper understanding and knowledge about the actual situation of our country as well as the implementation of our regional autonomy system.
Secondly, after an interval of more than one year, CPPCC Vice-Chairman Du Qinglin met with them again, briefing them on the development China has made in national construction, the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PRC and the recently concluded Fifth National Conference on Work in Tibet. This was helpful for them to better understand the policy and guidelines of the Central Government. As Du is Vice-Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, and he is one of our national leaders, so therefore, we have given them quite high treatment in terms of arrangement.
Thirdly, my colleges and I have had a whole day talking with them. During this talks, we had a heated debate, but this debate was not totally negative. Through this debate, we can see where we stand differently and how big our differences are. And through this debate, the 14th Dalai Lama can also get the idea where he stands. Actually before and during each round of talks, I always said that no matter how unpleasant the words were from the other side, please listen to what he has to say and actually we have practiced this during each round of our talks. And this is quite an effective way.
Fourthly, this round of talks is different from the last one. Because during the last round of talks in November 2008, when our talks were about to end, Lodi Gyari was so unhappy when we rejected the "Memorandum for All Tibetans to Enjoy Genuine Autonomy" he submitted that he said he was not sure whether they would like to have the next round of talks with us. But this time he sincerely looks forward to the next round of talks. I think he has a better attitude this time.
Zhu Weiqun: And as to the prospects of the talks, our attitude and position are consistent as before--we will keep the door open for contact and talks with the private representatives of the 14th Dalai Lama. However, it will be impossible for them to talk with us with regards anything about the so-called "Greater Tibet" and "high degree of autonomy", which in fact means "half independence" or "convert independence". If the representatives of the 14th Dalai Lama insist that they should talk with us about things such as the "Dalai Lama is the the legal representative of Tibetans", and, on the other hand, refuse to talk about the future of the 14th Dalai Lama, then I think the result of future talks will remain to be the same as the talks held in 2002.
In November 2008, the so-called "special meeting on the future of Tibet" was held, deciding they would cease contact and talks with the Central Government. We do hope that they will not repeat this mistake in the future.
Reporter from Reuters: Thank you, I'm from Reuters. My question is that if the US president Barack Obama meets with the Dalai Lama later this year, and how would this affect Sino-US ties? Thank you.
Zhu Weiqun: The relationship between the central governmentand the 14th Dalai Lama is completely an internal affairs of China. Therefore we oppose any attempt from any foreign forces to interfere in China's internal affairs, by citing the 14th Dalai Lama as an excuse. On this issue our position and our attitude have been consistent, clear-cut and unchangeable. It was reported recently that US President Obama may meet with the 14th Dalai Lama soon, and if that is the case, we will adopt the position we held before that we strongly appose it. I believe if the US leader chooses to do such a thing, his behavior is unreasonable and with no benefits. Some people argue that the 14th Dalai Lama is merely a religious figure. Actually this is not the case. As I have said just now, he is not a religious figure; instead he is the head of a separatist political group, who leads a government-in-exile with an illegal constitution, a constitution which describes that the 14th Dalai Lama is the supreme head both politically and relationally of this political group. And I do urge those who know nothing about the illegal constitution to check about it.
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