Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao said at a regular press conference in Beijing on Thursday that the Dalai Lama's appointment of a successor would violate religious rituals and historical conventions of Tibetan Buddhism.

 

Liu made the remarks when asked to comment on the Dalai Lama's recent remarks indicating that he might announce his successor.

 

He said that the system of reincarnation of great lamas is unique to Tibetan Buddhism, a practice with complete religious rituals and historical conventions.

 

The Chinese government carries out the policy of religious freedom and respects the conventions of Tibetan Buddhism. The government has clarified its policy in a recently released regulation on reincarnation of great lamas, Liu said.

 

"The Dalai Lama's remarks obviously violated religious rituals and historical conventions," he added.

 

Emissions reduction

 

China emphasized that developing countries should shoulder the responsibility of cutting emissions but should not have to meet compulsory targets set by rich nations.

 

"Setting a target of cutting emissions is a principal issue for a nation, which should be done by the country itself," Liu said.

 

Liu added that China always stands by its principles on dealing with climate change.

 

"Climate change is an issue concerning the survival and development of humankind, it also requires common efforts by international society," said Liu.

 

He said that developed countries should face up to their historical responsibilities, take the lead in cutting emissions and honor their commitments on technological transfer and financial aid to developing countries.

 

The "common but differentiated responsibilities" established by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change represents an international consensus and all countries should uphold the Convention and its Kyoto Protocol as the basic framework for international cooperation, Liu said.

 

A conference on the UN framework is scheduled in Bali, Indonesia next month, with some 10,000 participants from over 189 countries expected to attend. The UN hopes to launch two years of talks to develop a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.

 

The US, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has refused to ratify the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which mandates cuts in the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.

 

"Developing countries should shoulder their due responsibilities to cut emissions; however, developed nations should not set compulsory targets to cut emissions for less developed countries," Liu said.

 

China has set targets on greenhouse gas emission controls to be met in 2010, including cutting the energy intensity of GDP by 20 percent from the 2005 level and freezing industrial emissions of nitrous oxide at the 2005 level.

 

Mideast international meeting

 

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will attend the international meeting on Middle East scheduled from November 26 to 27 in the US at the invitation of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Liu said.

 

During the meeting to be held in Annapolis, Maryland, China will work with all concerned parties and discuss how to promote the Middle East peace process, Liu said.

 

China supports and would like to participate in all international efforts that are conducive to the realization of Middle East peace, he said, expressing the hope for an early, comprehensive and lasting resolution of the issue.

 

Liu said the meeting has drawn international attention, including Arab countries. All sides, as well as China, have pinned great expectations on the meeting.

 

China hopes Palestine and Israel would communicate with each other and discuss possible resolutions, and negotiate significant results, Liu said.

 

The international conference on the Middle East revives hopes of advancing the stalled Middle East peace process.

 

Toy safety

 

"China hopes the Chinese-made toys can bring joy to children around the world on Christmas," Liu remarked when responding to recent US criticism on the safety of Chinese toys.

 

Liu said that China has taken note of world concern and made great efforts to improve the quality of its exported toys.

 

"I believe Chinese products, including toys, will continue to be loved by consumers around the world through the concerted efforts of the Chinese government and enterprises," he said.

 

"I wish children around the world a safe and happy Christmas and I hope Chinese-made toys can bring them joy," Liu added.

 

Six-party talks

 

China is in close consultation with other concerned parties regarding the next arrangement of the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, Liu said.

 

"All parties feel generally positive towards the next round of chief delegates' meeting and I believe that the meeting will be held at a time which is appropriate and necessary to all," he said.

 

North Korea agreed to disable all existing nuclear facilities by the end of this year, according to a joint document released on Oct. 3 when the second phase of the sixth round of six-party talks ended in Beijing.

 

The six-party talks involve China, North and South Korea, the US, Japan and Russia.

 

European financial officials' coming visit

 

Liu announced that Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime Minister and Minister of State and Finance of Luxembourg, and President of Eurogroup, Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank, and Joaquin Almunia, Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs of the Commission of the European Union, will visit Beijing from November 27 to 29.

 

The delegation of these key European financial officials, invited by the People's Bank of China, will conduct an in-depth exchange of opinions on China-Europe economic and financial cooperation, Liu added.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2007)