China hopes that Italy will take China's concerns over Tibet-related issues into serious consideration, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Responding to a question on Italian lawmakers' meeting with the Dalai Lama, ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the meeting had injured the feelings of the Chinese people, and China had expressed strong dissatisfaction with the meeting.

A group of Italian senators met the Dalai Lama on Monday, and Rome's city council made him an honorary citizen, despite China's stern representation, Jiang told a routine news briefing.

Noting the Sino-Italian comprehensive strategic partnership, Jiang said China hopes Italy will pay attention to its concerns and take effective measures to maintain the healthy development of bilateral ties.

"Tibet is an inalienable part of China, and Tibet-related issues are purely China's internal affairs," she said, adding that China opposes any country, organization or individual using the Dalai Lama to intervene in its internal affairs.

The Dalai Lama's remarks and deeds have shown clearly that he is not purely a religious person but an exiled politician engaged in activities intended to separate Tibet from China and disrupt national unity, Jiang noted.

"Our relationship with the Dalai Lama is not an issue of human rights, religion or nationality, but an issue concerning our sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Jiang urged the international community to fully understand, respect and support China's actions and efforts to safeguard national sovereignty as well as the interests of all ethnic groups and social stability.

(Xinhua News Agency February 10, 2009)