BEIJING (AFP) Thu Dec 4, 3:47 am ET– China warned on Thursday that trade ties with France could be affected by President Nicolas Sarkozy's planned meeting with the Dalai Lama.
"We attach great importance to our strategic partnership with France, as well as our business relations with France. These two points are closely related," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters.
"Only under the condition of good bilateral relations can we create a sound atmosphere for our business relations."
Liu was responding to a question about the potential impact on the two countries' large trade relationship of Sarkozy's planned meeting with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
Sarkozy is set to meet the Dalai Lama in Poland on Saturday, despite repeated calls by Beijing against the encounter.
Liu reiterated that Sarkozy take steps to "repair" ties, presumably by cancelling the meeting, or risk long-term harm to bilateral relations.
"France should really work hard to change this situation, which will determine the development of our bilateral relations," Liu said.
Beijing objects to foreign leaders meeting with the Dalai Lama, who it maintains is trying to win independence for his Himalayan homeland that has been under Chinese rule since 1951.
It has already retaliated by cancelling an EU-China summit that was set for this week. France currently holds the rotating EU presidency.
The Dalai Lama insists he only wants greater autonomy for Tibet under Chinese rule, and not independence.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081204...diplomacytrade
"We attach great importance to our strategic partnership with France, as well as our business relations with France. These two points are closely related," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters.
"Only under the condition of good bilateral relations can we create a sound atmosphere for our business relations."
Liu was responding to a question about the potential impact on the two countries' large trade relationship of Sarkozy's planned meeting with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
Sarkozy is set to meet the Dalai Lama in Poland on Saturday, despite repeated calls by Beijing against the encounter.
Liu reiterated that Sarkozy take steps to "repair" ties, presumably by cancelling the meeting, or risk long-term harm to bilateral relations.
"France should really work hard to change this situation, which will determine the development of our bilateral relations," Liu said.
Beijing objects to foreign leaders meeting with the Dalai Lama, who it maintains is trying to win independence for his Himalayan homeland that has been under Chinese rule since 1951.
It has already retaliated by cancelling an EU-China summit that was set for this week. France currently holds the rotating EU presidency.
The Dalai Lama insists he only wants greater autonomy for Tibet under Chinese rule, and not independence.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081204...diplomacytrade
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