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FM: President Hu's Japan visit not postponed
By Rong Xiandong/Zhao Huanxin (chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2008-03-12 11:05 Last Saturday, Jacques Rogge，president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said that China is making big strides in clearing up its air quality ahead of the 2008 Olympics. China is a Safe Place Answering a British reporter's question on security concerns, the Chinese Foreign Minister said that the country is one of the safest places in the world. "If you don't believe it, you can ask your ambassador in China, or any ambassadors from western countries," Yang said. "Do they feel safer in China or elsewhere?" More and more tourists are coming to China every year, and it is not easy to reserve a hotel room in Beijing during the coming Olympic Games, though they will be more expensive during the Games, Yang said. "So I think people believe Beijing is a safe place," he said. Dalai Lama Issue The Dalai Lama issue is not a religious or ethnic issue, but one concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Yang. More and more European countries have realized this, Yang said while evaluating the Sino-European relations at the press conference. Germany has openly recognize that Tibet is an inalienable part of China, and said it would not support any attempt to seek "Tibet independence", Yang said. More and more countries have realized the Dalai Lama's conspiracy to split Tibet from China and his secessionist attempt is doomed to fail, he said. Yang also express great confidence in the relationship between China and Europe. Sino-European relations have moved forward in steady paces, he said. "We are pleased about the progress." The seventh Asia Europe Meeting will be held in China in August, which will be a grand gathering for over 40 heads of state and government from Asian and European countries. Through this meeting, Yang said, China hopes to further improve the cooperation between Asia and Europe in international affairs as well as in economy and trade. "We hope to promote the dialogue among different civilizations, " he said. "Very Prudent" on Death Penalty Defending the country's death penalty, Yang said the Chinese government is very "prudent" in this regard. Whether there is death penalty or not is decided by a country in light of its own conditions, and China is not the only one in the world that has death penalty, he said. "China's position on death penalty is very prudent, serious and responsible," he said, citing that the Supreme People's Court took back the power of reviewing death penalty on January 1 last year.
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